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Montreal, Canada - Technology and Tradition Team up to Allow More Couples Access to Fertility Treatment |
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Dr. Seang Lin Tan works with the new method of preserving eggs at the McGill Reproductive Centre in Montreal.
For some, however, that joy remains elusive because of fertility problems.
"We have the technology to help most couples conceive, but to make this technology accessible to all cultures, we must deliver it within the context of their traditions and values," says Dr.
Hananel Holzer, a fertility expert at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC).
Many cultural or religious groups allow couples to use In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) if certain conditions are respected and followed.
It is our job to make that happen.
For example, some Muslim patients require that only female doctors are involved in the IVF procedure.
"We have also been asked to say prayers at the moment of fertilization, which we are happy to do," says Dr. Holzer, who is a professor of medicine in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at McGill University 
.
The Orthodox Jewish community also has unique needs.
The McGill Reproductive Centre has worked closely with Rabbi Weiss, head of the Jewish Community Council of Montreal, to develop the Observation Program.
This program, the first of its kind in Canada, was created specifically to allow members of the Jewish community access to state-of-the-art fertility treatments without compromising their religious and cultural standards.
"In Judaism, the Halacha requires that certain conditions are met with respect to many aspects of life," says Dr. Holzer.
"While the concept of kosher food may be familiar to many, not everyone realizes that Jewish laws also set out clear guidelines which cover reproduction. " Many steps were taken to meet the needs of this particular community.
"Special observers were trained to understand religious laws as they relate to assisted reproduction," says Dr. Holzer.
"Special freezing tanks for the eggs and incubators to house the embryos were also purchased by the Jewish community.
Dr Holzer has vast experience working closely with the orthodox and ultra orthodox community in Israel, were he was deputy director of the IVF department at Hadassah Hospital.
"When I arrived in Montreal it was only natural to establish the same service here with Rabbi Weiss who is an astonishing scholar," he said.
Dr Seang Lin Tan, Director of the McGill Reproductive Centre and Obstetrician and Gynecologist-in-Chief of the MUHC, praised Dr. Holzer's initiative.
"This program is a wonderful example of collaboration between the MUHC and our community for the benefit of patients," he said.
"By respecting religious laws and adapting to cultural sensitivities we have allowed more people to experience the joys of parenthood.
This news follows a recent provincial government decision by the Quebec government to fund fertility treatment.
This decision makes the option of using reproductive technology to start a family more widely available
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Read Comments (10) — Post Yours »
1
Jun 12, 2009 at 10:08 AM Cadd9 Says:
It's great that Quebec is funding fertility treatments. I suspect it's because the birth rate in Canada is under 1.5 births per woman (replacement is 2.1). Quebec 's birth rate is even lower. Japan ,Greece, Germany and some other countries are already in decline. (deaths outnumbering births) The pensions and healthcare of most European countries are in danger of collapsing as the ratio of retirees to workers nears 2:1.
The problem is that paying for fertility treatments will not create the desire among the Europen stlyle Quebecers to have children.
2
Jun 12, 2009 at 09:57 AM Anonymous Says:
may Hashem reward them with all good. and answer the tfillos of all woman speedily.
3
Jun 12, 2009 at 09:57 AM montrealyid Says:
kudos to Dr Holzer I know him personally. he is a yid with a big heart, he helped already many Orthodox couples in Israel and Montreal.
Dr Holzer is a doctor that goes above an beyond his duties to accommodate the needs of Jewish families.
Dr. Holzer I'm jealous of your place in "Gan Edan"
4
Jun 12, 2009 at 09:56 AM power up Says:
This rabbi weiss (yonesen binyomin) is a brother of rabbi weiss from antwerp!!(Yesterdays post)
5
Jun 12, 2009 at 11:18 AM to power up Says:
Rav Binyomin Weiss is not a brotehr of yesterday's post. Baloney. He is a brother of Rav Usher Weiss of Ramot. He is a gaon and tzaddik and beloved in the city
6
Jun 12, 2009 at 11:57 AM chaim Says:
“ It's great that Quebec is funding fertility treatments. I suspect it's because the birth rate in Canada is under 1.5 births per woman (replacement is 2.1). Quebec 's birth rate is even lower. Japan ,Greece, Germany and some other countries are already in decline. (deaths outnumbering births) The pensions and healthcare of most European countries are in danger of collapsing as the ratio of retirees to workers nears 2:1.
The problem is that paying for fertility treatments will not create the desire among the Europen stlyle Quebecers to have children. ”
i dont know who u r but im from montreal and i've been living in the states for awhile, but u should just know that there r a lot of American Jews living in montreal and they also use the clinic when they cant have children!! the quebecours that live there (at least the jewish ones) are NOT Europen stlyle!!!!!!!!!
7
Jun 12, 2009 at 12:02 PM Anonymous Says:
"This news follows a recent provincial government decision by the Quebec government to fund fertility treatment. "
Oh. quite gegerous. Any other countries pay for fertility treatments?
8
Jun 12, 2009 at 12:00 PM Anonymous Says:
What about the cost of fertility treatments? I doubt that any health insurance plans will cover these. IVF with donor eggs can easily cost over $25,000 per cycle, and a few cycles might be needed for success.
9
Jun 12, 2009 at 01:01 PM Ben Says:
“ i dont know who u r but im from montreal and i've been living in the states for awhile, but u should just know that there r a lot of American Jews living in montreal and they also use the clinic when they cant have children!! the quebecours that live there (at least the jewish ones) are NOT Europen stlyle!!!!!!!!! ”
As I am from Mtl I can tell you that #1 was refferring to the Non Jewish Quebecois who act (worldview) like the Europeans which is what he clearly meant
10
Jun 12, 2009 at 02:05 PM Cadd9 Says:
“ As I am from Mtl I can tell you that #1 was refferring to the Non Jewish Quebecois who act (worldview) like the Europeans which is what he clearly meant ”
Thanks, Of course that's what I meant.
I was just wondering why a province would start paying for fertlity treatments that cost over $10,000 a cycle. The orice of heathcare is creating huge financial problems in the whole western world. (GM is just one example). Obviously Quebec isn't looking for new expenses. They desperrately need children to maintain their position and the Francaphone population in Canada.
It won't help because the Francaphones won't be running to the fertility treatments.
I'm very pleased that Achinu Bnei Yisroel will Bezras Hashem have the benefit of this program.