Surrogacy Research Paper Comp ll Acordreia M. Pratt 8/31/2010 A surrogate mother is a woman who carries a child, usually for an infertile couple. The process involves artificial insemination technology, where by the husband sperm is transferred and the surrogate mother conceives the child. Making a decision to become a surrogate mother or hiring a surrogate requires a lot of planning, thought, and preparation.
In my opinion surrogacy is a wonderful idea because there is the thought of religious factors, and it brings happiness to individuals and couples who can’t bear children, and but on the other hand I also feel that it is not a good idea because it involves financial transactions, and there are huge emotional issues with the surrogate mothers when it comes to giving the baby to the parents. There are two types of surrogacy, traditional and gestational. The traditional type of surrogacy involves the surrogate mother being artificially inseminated with the sperm of the intended farther of sperm from a donor when the sperm count is low.
In either case the surrogate’s own egg will be used, but genetically the surrogate becomes the mother of the resulting child. Also in some cases cryopreserved sperm, or frozen stored sperm may be used. In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate mother has no genetic ties to the offspring. Eggs and sperm are extracted from the donors and in vitro fertilized and implanted into uterus of the surrogate. “This is an expensive procedure. ”(Storey). The command given to man was to be fruitful and multiply (Gen. 1:28).
When looking at the role religion has played in surrogate motherhood, I tend to look at the story of Abraham and Sarah. The moral and ethical issue surrounding the scenario was Sarah arranging for Abraham and Hagar to have them a child. It was the practice of her native country where there was no hope bearing children for the spouse to give her maid to provide an heir for the family. This was one of the legal codes of Mesopotamia. Precisely the wife determined the rights of the offspring. It is my understanding that GOD did not condone the practice of surrogacy.
Abraham was accused of following the footsteps of Adam. They allowed their spouses to lead them astray instead of trusting and obeying. The outcome was suffering and disappointment. Scriptures also tells us that their imagined blessing proved to be a curse. Domestically there was a lot of tension, heartache, and hatred between the women. Considering all of the pain and heartache associated with surrogacy in the Bible the scenarios emphatically point out man choosing to be selfish. They made laws for self-aggrandizement.
Some feel that the inability to conceive is a result of past sin and they are being punished. “Adventists believe that GOD is concerned with all dimensions of human life and his principles should be followed. ” (Storey). The concept of surrogate motherhood is becoming very popular, as infertile couples are coming forward and welcoming this concept whole-heartedly. Surrogacy is a way to bring the happiness of parenthood to a couple who would otherwise not have been able to enjoy it. For example, gay male couples can’t carry children but want children just like any other couple would if they were together.
So most of them look to surrogacy to solve the problem because in this situation one of the fathers would actually be the father due to traditional artificial insemination, rather than looking at adopting a child that is no way there’s in anyway. If successful the couple will be extremely happy and grateful. Although it is an act of love, it also involves financial transaction. Surrogate mothers obviously charge for carrying the child in their womb. But the question is what kind of women carries a child for nine months, and then just hands it over after birth? Women, especially housewives, or those women who are living alone as their husbands are serving overseas, they do the job as a surrogate mother and the main aim is to assist their family financially. ” (Prakash). In my opinion if becoming a surrogate mother is what you want to do, and you are sincere about doing so, there is no need for money payments to ever enter the equation. Some people believe that surrogacy will eventually and inevitably become commercialized, with mothers hiring out their wombs to the highest bidder.
Studies have shown that, “Even if charges are standardized, the high level of such a fee will only benefit the rich and less likely to benefit the poor. ”(Mott). No case of parenthood should simply be decided by financial factors. It should be decided because you are helping the couple that can’t conceive the child, but unfortunately the cost of most of the pregnancy I left up to the hopeful couple. Not only are the medical costs for the surrogate mother the financial responsibility of the hopeful couple, but there are other financial obligations as well. The cost of using a surrogate mother can range anywhere from 30 thousand to 50 thousand just to hire surrogate. ” (Campbell). No matter how professionally a surrogate mother views her arrangement with the couple for whom she is carrying a child, emotional attachments to the child are always a risk. A surrogate must be emotionally prepared to deal with these feelings while honoring her contract. There are risks involved for both parties in a surrogacy contract. The surrogate mother runs the risk of experiencing complications related to pregnancy that may have a negative effect on her health.
The expectant couple runs the risk of disappointment if the pregnancy fails. There are also those terrible questions that will sit in the back of the expecting couple’s head: what if the surrogate mother decides not to hand over the baby? Is it wrong for them to offer money for the life on a child? Is surrogacy considered baby trafficking? In spite of the questions and possible disappointments, many individuals still attempts, or go through with the process. If you are a women and should decided to become a surrogate, a word of caution, do not go into this endeavor blindly.
All of the ramifications should be taken into consideration. Surrogacy is not a simple arrangement, it is extremely complex. The relationships can be stressful, overwhelming, and intense. Patience and perseverance are a must. Both the surrogate mother and the infertile couple should obtain legal counsel before agreeing to and signing a contract. It is in their best interest to know how the law addressed certain aspects of surrogacy as it pertains to their particular interest. (Storey)
