Patricia Rashbrook: to be a mother at the age of 63 : a controversial modern medical research

A consultant child psychiatrist by profession is to become Britain’s oldest mum at 63 by having an IVF treatment abroad. She is Patricia Rashbrook from Lewes, East Sussex who has two grown up children by her first marriage. Now she wanted a baby with second husband academic: John Farrant, 61. Doctor: Severino Antinori who has caused outrage with his policy of helping O.A.P mother, agreed to secretly put her on his controversial IVF course. It is thought she and Mr. Farrant paid maverick fertility doctor: Severino Antinori up to £50,000 to make her Britain’s oldest mum. Now she is seven months pregnant and is due to have a son in two months time.

While watching “Question Time” in BBC ONE, this Thursday, it amazed me how David Dimbleby had to deal with an interesting debate about this baby business. Because those comments from audience were really amusing such as - “this woman is obviously working through some deep seated issues: most likely about the way she brought up her older children but if she has regrets she would be better of concentrating on being a good grandmother than on being a mother again”.

There will always be those who criticise but the only person who should be able to decide on a woman’s right to a baby is the woman herself. Is it worth it? Of course it is not. After all child is not a product. Although it is none of our business but her, as she will be pushing baby’s pram to collect her old age pension!

I have seen one of our family friend: a young desperate childless woman and her frustration when she sees Rashbrook and some other sixtysomethings using cash and a cynical doctor to buy a baby.

I admire her courage! This is a really egotistical move. The pregnancy is all about the mother’s needs and certainly not about the welfare of the baby - which should always come first. There are thousands of kids in UK desperate for a home, abandoned kids at the Social Services department doomed to spend their life in “care” which I can see cases everyday in and out. May be, their lives could have been turned round if adopted or fostered by this wonderful mum to be – Patricia Rashbrook.

I must conclude and respect her decision. I think “good on her” ‘Cause when celebrity like Des O’ Connor who became a father later in life, nobody says a word.

By Rini Kakati , London