Surrogate mothers here and there

This week we'll be discussing ART -- assisted reproductive technologies

• Monday and Wednesday: surrogacy
• Friday:  other types of ART

Surrogacy background

Types of surrogacy

• traditional surrogacy -- the surrogate is pregnant with her own genetic child, and has agreed to relinquish the child to the intending parent(s); sperm comes from intending father or donor;  technical assistance:  artificial insemination (outdated method--see Baby M case)
• gestational surrogacy -- the surrogate is pregnant with a genetically unrelated child; the egg comes from intending mother or egg donor; sperm comes from intending father or donor; technical assistance:  egg retrieval; in vitro fertilization (IVF); embryo transfer
• commercial surrogacy -- surrogate is paid for her services, not just for her expenses
• altruistic surrogacy -- surrogate's motives are altruistic; she is paid for her expenses, if at all

Surrogacy laws

• can prohibit, or merely permit, or permit-plus-uphold contracts
• laws can treat commercial and altruistic surrogacy differently
• US laws are mostly permissive -- see here
• many European countries prohibit commercial surrogacy or both commercial and altruistic -- see here
• India has very liberal surrogacy laws; single and gay people were banned from using Indian surrogates in 2013 -- see here

Surrogacy here

• the Thernstrom article gives us a vivid picture of surrogates in an affluent country
• fees for hiring a US surrogate through a US agency -- here

Surrogacy there

• the Carney chapter gives us a vivid picture of surrogates in India
• that chapter is from The Red Market by Scott Carney--deals with the international market in organs, blood, hair, and other bodily parts and services (highly recommended)
• video about Indian surrogacy is here