Money | 02/20/2009 11:45 am

Octomom's Father, Ed Doud, Lands on 'Oprah'

By The Staff at wowOwow.com

Octuplet mother Nadya Suleman isn’t the only one making television appearances. Ed Doud, her father, will soon appear on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" — a show his daughter reportedly wanted to book. She must be fuming, but will likely be more angry after she sees the show, which airs Tuesday.

According to excerpts released early from Harpo Productions, the 67-year-old grandfather questions his daughter’s sanity and calls the Octomom’s budding behavior "absolutely irresponsible," and says, "Now I’m no psychiatrist, but I question her mental situation."

We, too, questioned her mental faculties, which is why we asked a renowned criminal psychologist what he thought of Suleman’s actions. Dr. Stanton E. Samenow called Suleman’s actions "irresponsible" as well. Dr. Samenow went on to present us with seven ways the octuplet mother’s personality mirrors that of his criminally inclined patients.

When Oprah asked the octuplet grandfather what he thinks about his daughter’s website that begged the public for donations, Doud said: "You know what? She needs help. I say to everybody now — people — we do need help. Do not punish my daughter for what she had done and do not punish the babies, because they were given by God."

Meanwhile, a nonprofit group based in Suleman’s home-state of California, Angels in Waiting, has offered Suleman 24-hour care and a place to live with her 14 children. Within the next few months, Suleman may really need it, because Octogram Angela Suleman, who houses the Octotots, faces foreclosure for missing mortgage payments.

According to calculations released in the papers today, it would cost a whopping $135,000 a month to provide the 12 caretakers the children need.

49 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Oh Noelle, don’t do that! Just avert your eyes when you see one of these articles…I know I’ll be doing that too.

By Lee Harrison on 02/20/2009 9:34 pm

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I was reading an article about IVF last night written well before this nut case had all her embryos implanted. It seems that is frightfully expensive and a lot must quit before a successful implant due to lack of more funds, after spending all their savings. Then it also said that implant drs. will not implant more than a limited number of embryos, NOW - where did she get the money for all of this…the earlier implants and now this over-implanted successful one? Seems rather strange to me. BTW - why was she seen shopping in Nordstroms? Spending the money for the babies?….hmmm

By Lizzie R. on 02/20/2009 9:44 pm

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I heard from fp that she got her money from 1 50+k she which she got in worker’s compensation.

By Grande Camper on 02/20/2009 11:59 pm

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In our age, we are facing some very important questions, simply because science is way too far ahead of ethics.

Let me state up front that I am all for IVF in cases where natural conception is a problem for childless couples. But in this case, just because we can, does that mean we should?

Where did the money come from? Her worker’s comp would not have been enough to pay for all this when you do the math, unless the Dr. is the Walmart of the medical community. Speaking of whom…. WHY do we not hear anything about him? He is being investigated by the medical community, right? Is this a case of "taking care of our own"? I feel he should be investigated VERY publicly, and definitely by an independent, perhaps by someone in the justice system. There has to be some way of it treating this as a crime.

She certainly needs psychiatric intervention. You don’t have children to be your little buddies. Is this a case of OCD gone terribly terribly wrong? I agree that Mom and Dad would have had had little to no control seeing as how Octo-mom is over 21. Kick her out of the house? How do you kick your child out? Especially if your child has your grandchildren’s lives in her (unstable) hands. I don’t believe in mandatory sterilization, but I’m thinking that it would be a viable, necessary option in this case.

BTW… she is not the only questionable new mom. The following, altho not spectacular as far as numbers are concerned addresses yet another issue in the "just because we can does that mean we should" debate.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2009/02/04/cgy-twins-60yearold-mother.html

Just a few of my thoughts.

By Harley Gramma on 02/21/2009 11:59 am

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Harley,

She’s already sterile,which is why she got the IVF!

It galls me to no end that all kinds of financial, psychological, physical and environmental hoops must be jumped by prospective adoptive or foster parents; yet this woman, who would not have passed muster on a single one of these areas, managed to have IVF intervention SIX TIMES!

The operative word here in my opinion is "intervention." She did not just do what comes naturally - someone had to intervene, expensively, to enable her to create 14 children.

The same standards for adoption and fostering need to be applied to IVF. I agree in principle that people have a right to reproduce, but I DON’T think they have a right to expensive medical interventions without anyone asking any questions.

Imagine this description of a prospective adoptive parent: "single, lives with parents in their modest 3-bedroom home, no means of financial support, owes $50,000 in student loans, parents declared bankruptcy last year, disabled in on-the-job injury." Think this person would ever be allowed to adopt or foster-parent? HA! And for her previous IVFs, add to this description: "currently parent of six children, three of whom are disabled and receive SSI benefits." There is no way any competent authority would let such a person adopt or foster ANY children, much less up to 14!

In fact - a family with three adults and 14 children living in a three-bedroom house does not pass the common sense test even if the kids were all born the normal way. In the county where I live, the authorites call this "overcrowding" and it is actually illegal.

By Lila Kuh on 02/23/2009 10:25 am

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Excellent article, Harley Gramma. It certainly does substantiate the need for more stringent guidelines in IVF.

It also points towards the need for more psychological assessment in those women seeking such treatment who present with red flags such as inappropriate age, sustainable income, support system, and genetic issues. Serious scrutiny for OCD should be reviewed.

It’s one thing to be determined to have a child, but when IVF becomes more about the mother’s obsession to be a mommy rather than the welfare of the child [e.g., a 60 year-old first time mother] that becomes, in my view, potential covert abuse.

That any ethical physician even consider IVF for a woman beyond age 45 is very disconcerting to me.

By Andrea Brandon on 02/21/2009 1:25 pm

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This woman is not a mass murderer. So why all the hate? So what the babies came into this world all at once. They are innocent and have vast unknown potential … if we care at all IMHO we should be helping her, not vilifying her.

By rocky rocky on 02/21/2009 3:34 pm

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Because she is stupid to go for invitro when she already had six children and no father in the house. Now, she is seeking donations and the state of California will have to pick up the hospital tab and any future medical issues these children have. There are enough problems in the world without people asking for extra problems. She will surely neglect these children, they will not get the love they so need from one woman. Having caretakers in the house 24/7 is not the same as a parent spending quality time with their child.

And for all you people that think that God had something to do with this - how is that possible when a doctor intervened and she provided the equipment. GOD HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT………. GEEZ, WHY DO ALL THE EXTREME RELIGIONISTS HAVE TO GET IN THEIR TWO CENTS ABOUT GOD????

By jules verne on 02/21/2009 9:59 pm

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Rocky, the basic ‘facts of life’ and science regarding the conception, pregnancy, premature delivery, birth and chances for future health and well being show that the odds are very much against these children. Prematurity (as I have noted in several responses regarding this case) frequently harb inges physical and developmental abnormalities. I am in health care, and I just shake my head when I hear starry-eyed people talking about a ‘miracle’ of multi9ple birth. The public doesn’t see or know about those babies with bronchial dysplasia, who (if they live) will be pulmonary cripples requiring 24 hour oxygen and ventilatory support. They don’t see the babies with necrotizing enterocolitis fighting for their lives while they have massive bowel resections. Such is the REALITY of such births. Additionally, three of Suleyman’s 6 older children—whose needs/wants/futures were NEVER factored into this woman’s decision for further IVF—are also disabled. Why the hate? This woman has tried to broker her own ‘15 minutes of fame’ on the backs of 14 tiny souls (the oldest of whom is only 7)…It is these poor children who will surely pay the price for her folly and that of her ‘medical misadventurist’ physician! There is a good reason why these huge ‘litters’ don’t occur in nature…humans were not designed for this. Also, such prematurity is not compatible with life in NATURE. This whole scenario is as perverse as it is tragic!

By Melanie Waldrop on 02/22/2009 10:36 am

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Thanks for speaking up, rocky. I’m pretty amazed at how angry people are. Have you been watching Dr. Phil? Last week he had a plastic surgeon on who said she’d definately had surgery, and then Thursday a woman who’d been friends with Nadya in high school said, "Absolutely not. She looks just like she’s always looked." I wanna see GPA before I put to much faith in any Dad who goes on Oprah to tell the world he thinks his daughter’s nuts.

By Ms. Dee on 02/23/2009 12:03 am

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Have not watched Dr Phil, but from what I’ve heard about him, I’m not surprised he’s jumped on the hate wagon. The general reaction has been more like a nation-wide Jerry Springer show, or a lynch mob, or witch hunt, and no one hesitating to cast the first stone. I find this all rather mysterious and just makes me turn off and tune out.

By rocky rocky on 02/23/2009 8:14 am

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That makes two of us…so maybe there are others. We can hope.

By Ms. Dee on 02/23/2009 8:46 am

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Okay, here’s my 2 cents….I have the same insurance company as "octomom." I am an overweight, 53 yr old woman with heart disease and cancer in my history. I have struggled for years with weight loss plans and my insurance company will NOT approve gastric by-pass or even lap banding for me….because I had a time in my life when I was on meds for depression and that tells them I am not "emotionally stable" enough to handle getting skinny!?! But wait! This same insurance company will impregnate this woman with 8 children and no father or visible means of support? I figure my children will be rich when I die because as a good American, I will leave them everything they need to sue the hell out of the insurance company that allowed me to die.

By Micky Mc on 02/22/2009 12:33 am

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oh micky,i feel for you and your right.the people that need it the most can’t get it,and the people who don’t get it handed to them time after time.sweetie i’m thinking of you!!!!

By Carol Ault on 02/22/2009 9:20 pm

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Something to consider: the funds for SSI [payment to disabled people, 3 of Suleman’s older children] is essentially paid out of the same bucket at seniors receiving Social Security checks. Because of the shortfall of funds anticipated, it makes Suleman’s decision to do IVF unconscionable.

I read a little about premature births and the medical problems associated with them. Cerebral Palsy is commonly found in multi-births but the consensus is that a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy generally is not made until the child is at least 18 months old and can include such things as epilepsy, mental retardation, learning disabilities, and ADHD, to name a few. There are other complications often seen in premature infants:

Anemia
Bleeding into the brain (intraventricular hemorrhage of the newborn)
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD)
Cognitive or motor disability or delay
Delayed growth and development
Infection or neonatal sepsis
Heart disease
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome
Newborn jaundice
Retinopathy and vision loss or blindness
Severe intestinal inflammation (necrotizing enterocolitis)

And now I understand that Suleman is going to be on Dr. Phil this week. On top of that, a man has come forth [not David Solomon who may be married] demanding a DNA test because he believes that some of the 14 kids are his.

When does Suleman see the kids in the hospital or at home when she’s running off to do interviews?

Those poor children.

By Andrea Brandon on 02/22/2009 12:05 pm