A radio station promotion that awarded five couples in vitro fertility treatments Tuesday as part of a “Win a Baby” contest has drawn the ire of Canadians on both sides of the issue.

Hundreds entered the contest held by Ottawa station Hot 89.9 for a chance to win a round of IVF treatments. After several weeks of having hopefuls campaign and write essays on why they should be chosen, the station whittled the competition down to five couples.

Hot 89.9 assembled the families in a room Tuesday, as posted on the station's website, and announced the award after a tense setup. “You’re all getting up to three fertility treatments. Congratulations!” radio host Jeff Mauler said as loud sobs from the women can be heard in the background.

“There's not a dry eye in the house,” Mauler said. "A lot of hugs and a lot of tears," he said describing the emotional scene in the room. “Once again with 'Win a Baby' all five of our finalists are getting three fertility treatments, up to three fertility treatments, and hopefully having their dreams come true.”

The contest has touched a political vein in Ontario, where residents - unlike their neighbors in Quebec - don't get government-funded IVF coverage. In July 2010, Quebec became the first jurisdiction in North America to fund IVF. Last month a Canadian survey showed that 75% of Ontario residents supported health insurance coverage for in-vitro fertilization treatments.

Despite the political sentiment, some say the contest crossed a line, playing on the emotions of women who want to have children.

“The station is clearly, clearly capitalizing on vulnerable patients that are desperate to have a family,” Beverly Hanck, executive director of the Infertility Awareness Association of Canada, told the Toronto Star newspaper.

She said the contest also should not be construed as actually giving the couples a baby, labeling it "false advertising, as IVF treatments can fail," the Star reported.

Toronto fertility counselor Jan Silverman called the contest "commodification of babies, turning babies into products," according to the Guardian newspaper.

The radio station has defended the contest. “Our goal was to help out those people who don’t have the money that really wanted a child desperately,” Mauler told the Star.

From video that the station posted on its website, Tracy Broad, who won the IVF treatment with her husband Nathan, is heard thanking the public and the radio station for the chance to be a parent.

“Words cannot describe how happy I am right now and how grateful I am for all the support and the love that we received. And it’s my 30th birthday today," she said to cheers from the other families.

*So what do you think?

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/10/12/critics-call-radio-stations-win-a-baby-contest-exploitative/?hpt=us_t5

Thank you Peccy for posting this. It really made me stop and think. I have a two part reply.
1. Part tells me if you do not have the money or insurance to cover in-vitro treatments. How are you going to have the money and health insurance to take care of a baby.
2. Part is said best by one of the women who won. (thanking the public and the radio station for the chance to be a parent). This is just a CHANCE to be a new mom and dad. What a wonderful thing!! Hope can change a life and the world!
3. Best wishes to all the hopeful new mom's and dad's. May hope change your life's for the better.

Seems a bit more political than exploitative to me. Just because one doesn't have the tens of thousands of dollars to shell out doesn't mean they aren't prepared to be parents. I hope this show outlined the need to allow all Canadians to have IVF included in their standard government health benefits.

And now when will USA finally get universal health coverage, we are one of the last remaining industrialized nations to not do so. Despite being first in spending per person and next to last in satisfaction. Also, for industrialized nations our maternal/infant childbirth death rates are way higher than other nations. What is wrong with our system, allowing for profit organizations to make money of our health, and allowing for profit organizations make money off of making us sick.... good concept for our capitalist country to live and die for profit. GARRRRRRR