Surrogacy is a moral dilemma that has risen out of
the advance of medical technology. It is a practice by which a woman
is hired to bear a child for another woman, or a couple, who are not capable
of having children themselves (for whatever reason--the man or woman is
infertile, the woman cannot carry the child, etc.) In considering
surrogate cases, it is useful to define certain terms: the intentional
mother or father is the one who wants to have a child (it may be a
couple or an individual), the genetic mother and father are those
who supply the egg and sperm for the embryo, the gestational mother
is the woman who carries the embryo to term and gives birth to it, and
the nurturing mother and/or father raise and nurture the child.
Though distinct names have been provided, the individual roles may overlap.
For example, the surrogate (gestational mother) may also be the genetic
mother, the intentional parents may also be the genetic parents, or perhaps
the genetic parents are neither the surrogate nor the intending parents.
With such a complicated arrangement of people, it is logical to see how
complications might arise. Moral dilemmas are faced in all stages
of surrogacy. Questions arise when considering who the intentional
mother and father are. Should there be an age limit? What about
someone who does not have the money for such an expensive procedure?
Secondly, once embryos have been fertilized, what should be done with the
"extras"? Whether they are frozen for later use, or found growing
in the woman's womb, ethical decisions must be made. In addition,
after the child is born, what should be done if the surrogate (gestational
mother) changes her mind? These are just a few dilemmas that may
surface when dealing with surrogacy. The following web sites supply
more information on the reproductive technology in general, as well as
ethical considerations relating to the topic:
GENERAL INFORMATION
Literature
on Reproductive Technologies (http://ethics.acusd.edu/reproductive_technologies.html)
A site with general information on reproductive
technologies including RealVideo and Multimedia resources, PowerPoint presentations,
religious documents, ethical information, additional resources, and input
from the National Bioethics Advisory Committee.
Surrogacy
(http://www.babycentre.co.uk/refcap/4099.html)
A site sponsored by Baby Centre. Contains
information specifically about surrogacy including how it works, how long
it takes, success rates, and positive and negative aspects of the procedure.
Surrogacy Support....It's
here! (http://pages.tca.net/jvanbeek/surr.htm)
Includes information on various agencies that deal
with the reproductive technology, surrogacy laws, an ethical commentary
by the author of the page, and various other links to sites about surrogacy.
Legal Overview
of Surrogate Laws by State (http://www.surrogacy.com/legals/map.html)
Shows a map of the United States with explanations
as to where each state stands in regard to the issue of surrogacy.
States are divided based on whether they criminalize paid surrogacy, whether
surrogate contracts are unenforceable, if the state recognizes surrogacy
as legal, if they have a case law, or whether no law is available.
Surrogacy Articles
& Stories (http://www.surrogacy.com/articles.html)
A site that offers articles and stories from a medical,
legal, and psychological perspectives. Also includes personal stories
and those from various agencies.
ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS/COMMENTARIES
Medical Articles
on Surrogacy (http://www.surrogacy.com/medres/medart.html)
Medical articles about surrogacy compiled by The
American Surrogacy Center (TASC). Articles include, but are not limited
to, "Embryo Transfer Clinics--A Critical Look," "Assisted Reproduction--A
Christian Clinician's View," "Surrogacy: Practical Medical Aspects,"
and "Types of Surrogacy."
Medical
Ethics and the New Reproductive Technologies (http://www.perspectivespress.com/coopglazmed.html)
An article excerpted from the chapter, "Emotional
and Ethical Considerations of Assisted Reproductive Technology," in the
book, Choosing Assisted Reproduction: Social, Emotional and Ethical
Considerations. Discusses the rights to reproduce versus the
rights/best interests of the children involved, the rights to information
regarding one's genetic origins, and the issue of liberation versus exploitation
of women for reproductive purposes.
Surrogacy:
Exploitation or Violation of Intimacy? (http://www.bu.edu/wcp/Papers/OApp/OAppOzol.htm)
An article by John Ozolins that supports the view
that most ordinary instances of surrogacy are wrong. He determines
this by considering the morality of surrogacy in terms of respect due to
other human beings and the importance of their intimate relationships with
one another. He feels that in order to look at surrogacy in these
terms, we must first understand what it is to be a human person, and then
come to understand why making relationships with other humans vulnerable
to destruction is immoral.
Surrogacy
from a Feminist Perspective (http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ethics/10_97/chap5.htm)
Discusses the following topics: models of
surrogacy, trials of surrogate mothers, and how surrogacy has turned
a normal biological function of a woman into a commercial contract.
Surrogacy
- Why Women Lose (http://www.infoxchange.net.au/wise/HEALTH/RT2.htm)
A web page sponsored by Women's Issues and Social
Empowerment (W.I.S.E.). In an article by Christine Szikla, several
issues regarding women are discussed, including the structural subordination
of women, societal expectations of women as mothers, surrogacy, surrogate
mothers vs. social mothers, and the exploitation of women.
Personal
Stories and Experiences (http://www.surrogacy.com/personals/exper.html)
Personal stories and experiences about surrogacy,
egg donation, infertility, in addition to advice on the topics. A
good way to get real life information upon which to base a decision on
surrogacy. Sponsored by TASC..