Gestational surrogacy

Definition

Gestational surrogacy is a reproductive arrangement where a woman, known as the surrogate, carries a pregnancy for intended parents using an embryo created through in vitro fertilization (IVF) that is not genetically related to her. This method raises various ethical challenges regarding the rights of the surrogate, the intended parents, and the child, which are crucial in discussions about reproductive technologies.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Gestational surrogacy can involve complex legal agreements to clarify the rights and responsibilities of all parties involved, including the surrogate and the intended parents.
2. Ethical concerns often arise around potential exploitation of surrogates, especially in cases where they are financially compensated for their services.
3. In some regions, laws surrounding gestational surrogacy are underdeveloped or non-existent, leading to legal ambiguities about custody and parental rights.
4. The use of gestational surrogacy raises questions about the commercialization of reproduction and whether children can be viewed as commodities.
5. Surrogacy arrangements can have psychological impacts on all parties involved, including the surrogate's emotional attachment to the child she carries and potential feelings of loss after delivery.

Review Questions

• What ethical dilemmas might arise in gestational surrogacy arrangements and how can they affect the surrogate and intended parents?
  • Ethical dilemmas in gestational surrogacy include issues of exploitation, informed consent, and emotional wellbeing. Surrogates may feel pressured to participate due to financial needs, raising concerns about their autonomy and choice. Additionally, intended parents may grapple with feelings of entitlement over the child, leading to conflicts during and after pregnancy. These dilemmas highlight the importance of thorough legal agreements and ethical guidelines to protect everyone involved.
• How do laws surrounding gestational surrogacy differ across various regions, and what implications do these differences have for intended parents and surrogates?
  • Laws regarding gestational surrogacy vary widely by country and even within regions of countries, leading to significant implications for both intended parents and surrogates. In some areas, surrogacy is strictly regulated or banned altogether, while in others, it may be commercialized with few legal safeguards. These discrepancies can create situations where intended parents face legal uncertainty regarding their parental rights or where surrogates lack protection from exploitation. It is essential for all parties to understand the legal landscape before entering into agreements.
• Evaluate the psychological effects of gestational surrogacy on surrogates and intended parents, considering both short-term and long-term outcomes.
  • The psychological effects of gestational surrogacy can be profound for both surrogates and intended parents. In the short term, surrogates may experience emotional attachment to the child they carry, leading to feelings of loss after delivery. Intended parents might face anxiety about bonding with a child born through a surrogate. Long-term effects can include changes in family dynamics and ongoing emotional challenges regarding their roles as parents. Understanding these psychological factors is crucial for providing appropriate support to all parties involved in gestational surrogacy arrangements.

Related terms

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF): A medical procedure where an egg is fertilized by sperm outside the body, creating embryos that can be implanted into a surrogate or the intended mother.

Intended Parents: The individuals or couple who seek to have a child through gestational surrogacy and are typically the genetic parents of the child.

Surrogate Mother: A woman who carries and gives birth to a child for another individual or couple, either as a traditional surrogate with genetic ties or as a gestational surrogate with no genetic connection.