Dr Theseus Codswallop speaks out.
On many occasions I have been asked by anxious ladies 'Dr Codswallop - would it be selfish of me to have a child?'
This is a difficult question to answer.
Dora Flapswingle (not her true name) aged 86 recently visited me with this very question on her pouting lips.
Dora is a hang-gliding international model with a Swiss bank account and a new husband. Only I as her physician am aware of her true age. To the world at large Dora is a well preserved 40 something and that is how she wishes to be percieved.
Her 26 year old racing driver husband wishes to have a child and Dora would like to oblige. But is it advisable?
My answer to her is to search deep within herself and she will find that answer. Biologically she is perfectly capable of carrying a child to term and being present for its formative years. She has even frozen ova previously so that the child will be her own genetic offspring.
But is it advisable? Is it wise to produce a child that may not have both its parents as it grows up? Is it kind to have a child that may be embarrassed at the unnatural behaviour of one of its parents - should that parent even survive?
After all having a racing driver for a father may be deeply embarassing in this 'green' era and there is a strong statistical likelihood that a racing driver may not survive into hale and hearty old age.
I counselled Dora maybe that she should look elsewhere for someone to father her putative offspring, or that she chose not to procreate with someone so risky a prospect.
