The issue of surrogacy has long created opposing views. It is interesting to note, however, that many people are not quite aware of what surrogacy is all about.
Surrogacy is the answer to most couples who are having problems conceiving. It happens when a woman agrees to become pregnant for another person and surrenders the baby to the latter upon birth. The woman concerned could be the biological mother or just a gestational carrier. This could either be ‘full’ or ‘partial’ surrogacy. A partial surrogacy, also known as traditional surrogacy, happens when the sperm from the intended father is placed into the surrogate mother’s womb to fertilize her eggs. A full surrogacy, on the other hand, is when an embryo formed from the intended mother’s egg and intended father’s sperm is placed in the womb of a gestational mother.
Legal issues, however, surround the issue of surrogacy. In most countries, the woman giving birth is considered the legal mother. This means that, should the child be suffering from any illness or disorder, it would be the legal mother who would be taking care of the child. Aside from this, the intended mother and father might have to go through the lengthy process of adopting the child.
Surrogacy also raises the question of whether surrogacy arrangements are legally binding or not. Some countries, regardless whether there is a signed contract or none, do not hold surrogacy arrangements as binding. Therefore, a surrogate mother who decides not to push through with the agreement cannot be held liable. Side by side with this is the issue on payment. Several countries such as Canada, Japan, New Zealand and France have already banned commercial surrogacy, a surrogacy agreement where a payment is made to the surrogate mother.
Surrogacy is a physically and emotionally demanding task. Women who would like to become surrogate mothers must first make sure that they know what they are getting in to.
