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In this weeks episode, we dive deep into the hidden world of the global fertility industry—from legal sperm and egg donation to the alarming rise of black market egg sales, illegal surrogacy, and human trafficking tied to reproductive exploitation.

What begins as a promise of helping families grow often spirals into an unregulated system where human eggs are sold illegally, surrogates are exploited, and vulnerable donors are targeted based on age, race, and economic status. We investigate how the high demand for donor eggs, international fertility tourism, and the commercialization of surrogacy have opened the door to ethical grey zones and outright criminal practices.

Stories from previous donors who went over the recommended donation amount, those who sold their eggs to make ends meet, human rights being exploited, and even someone who lost their life. This episode sheds light on the dark underbelly of the assisted reproductive technology (ART) industry. We’ll explore how loosely enforced regulations and global inequality have turned parts of the fertility world into a lucrative—and sometimes dangerous—market.

Resources:

https://www.arcfertility.com/patient-resources/understanding-the-cost-of-ivf/

https://www.phoenixspermbank.com/blog/take-become-sperm-donor/

https://thefertilityagency.com/blog/how-much-do-egg-donors-make

https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/women-enslaved-in-georgia-for-human-egg-harvesting-by-chinese-gangsters-report-7665007

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/women-and-girls/the-dark-side-of-the-global-surrogacy-trade/

https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2024-fertility-egg-trade/?srnd=undefined&leadSource=uverify%20wall

https://www.theworldeggandspermbank.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/The-Importation-of-Eggs-from-Developing-Countries-Diana-Thomas-Opinion-Piece.pdf

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In this episode, we dive into everything you think you know about vaccines — and what the science actually says. From debunking the most common vaccine myths to breaking down the different types of vaccines (mRNA, live attenuated, inactivated, and more), we're setting the record straight. We also take a closer look at the infamous (and thoroughly debunked) study that falsely linked vaccines to autism — a study that sparked decades of misinformation and vaccine hesitancy.

If you've ever wondered how vaccines work, why they’re safe, or what really happened with that controversial autism study, this episode is for you. Tune in to get facts, not fear — and a little bit of snark — about one of medicine's greatest achievements.

RESOURCES:

https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/vaccines-and-immunization-what-is-vaccination

https://www.hhs.gov/immunization/basics/types/index.html

https://www.hrsa.gov/vaccine-compensation

https://historyofvaccines.org/vaccines-101/misconceptions-about-vaccines

https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/herd-immunity-strength-numbers/

https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html

https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/national-international/us-three-measles-related-deaths-hundreds-cases/3810494/

https://www.chop.edu/vaccine-education-center/vaccine-safety/vaccines-and-other-conditions/autism

https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/hcp/vaccination-considerations/safety-and-effectiveness-data.html

https://www.cdc.gov/covid/vaccines/how-they-work.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fvaccines%2Fdifferent-vaccines%2Fhow-they-work.html

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In our final part to the Michael Swango story, we witness the unraveling of Michael's future as a physician in the United States that will eventually lead him to flee to Africa. The FBI is hot on his tail, waiting for their chance when he returns to US soil so justice can be served. But the only charges that have substance are fraud charges, will they be able to secure murder charges before it's too late?

If you are a fan of true crime, medical mysteries, and pyschological profiling, this third and final part of the series will keep you on edge.

References:

https://www.columbusmonthly.com/story/lifestyle/features/2022/03/29/michael-swango-serial-killer-timeline/7190743hj001/

https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/lessons-worst-case-scenario/2004-03

https://www.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ps.51.12.1578

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1118552/

https://www.nytimes.com/2000/09/07/nyregion/prosecutors-say-doctor-killed-to-feel-a-thrill.html

Blind Eye: The Terrifying Story Of A Doctor Who Got Away With Murder by James Stewart

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