Surrogacy is when a woman carries a child for a couple who cannot conceive or carry a pregnancy to term. In today’s age, surrogacy is mainly agreed upon through a contract, but the idea of surrogacy has been around for centuries and is even talked about in the bible. Surrogacy comes with the ultimate benefit of receiving a child, but there are also many complications that come along with the process. The benefits of surrogacy do not outweigh the complications.
There are two main types of surrogacy. There is traditional, or “partial surrogacy” in which the surrogate mother is also the genetic mother of the child. The process of artificial insemination is carried out using the intended father’s sperm in order to conceive the baby in the surrogate mother’s womb (4). With full surrogacy, In vitro fertilization is used to conceive the baby in the surrogate mother’s womb, and the intended parents are the genetic parents of the child (4). “In vitro fertilization (IVF) refers to a …show more content…
Texas, Illinois, Utah, and Florida have legalized surrogacy in the past four years (1). “Only heterosexual couples can legally have children through surrogate mothers under Israeli law, leading gay couples and single people to seek service abroad,” (5). “Another question that arises concerns the issue of who is liable if the ‘product’ (the baby) is defective or does not meet the parents’ expectations and who will take care of such a child,” (3). The most famous case of surrogacy is the “Baby M” affair. Mary Beth Whitehead, age 29 in 1986, had carried and delivered a baby girl for an infertile couple (1). Whitehead was the baby’s genetic mother in this case of surrogacy and tried to keep her after delivery which led to a two year custody battle. Whitehead did not receive custody of the child but was given visitation rights.
There are two main types of surrogacy. There is traditional, or “partial surrogacy” in which the surrogate mother is also the genetic mother of the child. The process of artificial insemination is carried out using the intended father’s sperm in order to conceive the baby in the surrogate mother’s womb (4). With full surrogacy, In vitro fertilization is used to conceive the baby in the surrogate mother’s womb, and the intended parents are the genetic parents of the child (4). “In vitro fertilization (IVF) refers to a …show more content…
Texas, Illinois, Utah, and Florida have legalized surrogacy in the past four years (1). “Only heterosexual couples can legally have children through surrogate mothers under Israeli law, leading gay couples and single people to seek service abroad,” (5). “Another question that arises concerns the issue of who is liable if the ‘product’ (the baby) is defective or does not meet the parents’ expectations and who will take care of such a child,” (3). The most famous case of surrogacy is the “Baby M” affair. Mary Beth Whitehead, age 29 in 1986, had carried and delivered a baby girl for an infertile couple (1). Whitehead was the baby’s genetic mother in this case of surrogacy and tried to keep her after delivery which led to a two year custody battle. Whitehead did not receive custody of the child but was given visitation rights.