60-year-old woman gives birth to twins in Canada

A 60-year-old woman touched off a national debate over medical ethics this week when she delivered healthy twins at a Calgary hospital — possibly making her the oldest person in Canada to give birth.

Family members say Ranjit Hayer and her husband have been unsuccessfully trying to have children for nearly 40 years.

Reports say Hayer, originally from India, returned there to receive in vitro fertilization with donated eggs after being turned down for the procedure in Canada because of her age. Hayer gave birth to two boys, Manjot and Gurpreet, via caesarean section Tuesday.



The boys were delivered about seven weeks premature, but health officials said the fraternal twins and their mother are in good condition. “My wife is very good,” said a beaming Jagir Hayer, the 60-year-old father. “I’m very happy. God has given me boys, later in life. I want to throw a big party.”

Medical ethicists said the decision to have children at age 60 is a morally complex one. Glenys Godlovitch, acting director for the office of medical bioethics at the University of Calgary, said couples who do not have children face a stigma in some cultures.

But Godlovitch said the decision to have a baby also involves the welfare of the child, not just the parents’ desire for a family. “My first reaction was, ‘Oh dear, are the children going to be OK?’” said Godlovitch.

With news video.