'Octomom' doctor says she agreed to procedure

LOS ANGELES - The fertility doctor for "Octomom" Nadya Suleman said Thursday she had agreed to be implanted with 12 embryos and knew she was part of a study on fertility methods, disputing a prosecutor's assertion that Suleman was an unwitting human subject.

The hearing became heated on its final day, as lawyers clashed over whether Suleman knew about the study conducted by Michael Kamrava while she was receiving in vitro treatments that produced all 14 of her children.

Suleman is the mother of the longest-living set of octuplets in history. She did not testify at the licensing hearing but has acknowledged that her desire for a huge family led her to repeated in vitro treatments with Kamrava.

Kamrava retook the witness stand ahead of closing arguments to answer questions about the study.

Deputy Attorney General Judith Alvarado asserted through questioning that Suleman could not have known that she was a test subject.

Asked how Suleman knew about the study, Kamrava said: "She heard about it, we discussed it with her, and she volunteered."

Alvarado asked: "Where did she sign to say I'm a volunteer to be tested as a human guinea pig?"

Kamrava referred to a consent form Suleman signed that listed risks of the fertility treatments, but no document identified in the hearing indicated she had specific knowledge of the study.

The state medical board is seeking to revoke the doctor's license, alleging gross negligence in his treatment of Suleman and two other patients. Administrative Law Judge Daniel Juarez granted a request by Alvarado on Thursday to add a charge of dishonest and corrupt acts to the accusations against Kamrava for allegedly failing to properly inform human test subjects.

Under federal regulation, patients must give their informed consent before being involved in medical studies.