Surrogacy

In today's modern society, there are numerous treatments available to couples

unable to conceive. A widely debated method is surrogacy, the arrangement through
which an infertile couple can acquire a child by involving another women to carry the
embryo made from the sex cells of the intended parents, known as host surrogacy or
the arrangement of having the surrogate mother be the biological parent through
being inseminated with the sperm of the father. There are a variety of controversial
aspects surrounding surrogacy, stemming from its illegal or legal stand in numerous
countries and religious medical ethics.
Surrogacy is considered a ethical issue due to its questioning in legality in certain
countries as it involves many diferent roles and rights from each party involved. A
factor considered an advantage of surrogacy is how it fulfls couples desires to have
a biological child. Those with infertility often feel the stress of not being able to
conceive naturally and wish to have a child that shares your own genetics. Therefore,
surrogacy acts as a solution to infertility and can relieve a couple drastically. Also,
surrogacy ofers an option for not only childless couples but also to those who are of
the same sex. With the same wish as straight sex couples, same sex couples can
use the surrogacy method to ensure special care is taken that cells are taken of
either of the parent. This is an advantage to a couple unable to conceive naturally
and feel the security and normality of other couples that they have a child belonging
to them. Although many cases report an emotional distress of giving up your birth
child, it is also reported that surrogates who forge a good relationship with the
commissioning couple then the burned of relinquishment is eased largely. Therefore,
some surrogacy cases can be completely successful and not emotionally harmful to
the people involved. As for the needs and requirements of the surrogate mother, any
stereotypical views surrounding their unhappiness in the process are often false as
provably the surrogate mothers are very conscious of their decision to carry
someone else's child as they are informed and well paid, and can see it as helping
someone in need.
As for the Christian belief of surrogacy, Christians believe that people should
procreate as shown in 'be fruitful and multiply' from the Bible. Therefore, many
Christians disregard any problems with surrogacy and instead see the greater good
of eventual procreation. Also, with the teaching of, "Do not neglect to do good
and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God."
Some Christians may interpret surrogacy and sacrificing your body as
helping a couple who are in need.
One of the many arguments against the act of surrogacy is the bond created
between a birth mother and child. Some Christians consider the gestational role of
mother more signifcant than genetic motherhood as important biological bonds are
established between the surrogate and the foetus during pregnancy. For instance,
the hormone oxytocin plays a crucial role in preparing the gestational mother to
respond in accordance with her natural maternal instincts. Surrogacy leads disrupts
this bond and the emotional attachment between the surrogate mother and child can
lead to the surrogate being unwilling to give the child to the intended parents. This
not only causes emotional distress to the surrogate due to giving up a gestational
child but in other cases to the intended parents who then have to take matters to
custody battles. This in forces the rights and roles of each party involved. As the
intended parents have no legal control over how the surrogate mother's pregnancy is
handled, this leads to various disagreements such as the surrogate refusing to
undergo certain tests or behaving in a way that may harm the foetus. Therefore, this
issue with consent may cause confict as there are three people's needs, opinions
and rights taken into consideration.
Another major concern with surrogacy is the potential harm that may be inficted
upon the surrogate mother and the child. A diagnosis of a disability or disease could
lead to serious issues with a surrogate arrangement. This includes the problem of a
prenatal diagnosis resulting in the intended parents reversing their wishes.
Depending on the circumstances and quality of life for the baby or mother, such as
death of the surrogate being the result of labor, abortion can be considered by the
surrogate as she has total rights whereas the commissioning couple may disagree
even though they have no legal rights. This creates a major clash between the two
parties but presumably, the surrogates decisions always prevail under law.
Also, surrogacy deliberately creates long term efects on family structures that are
disoriented which leads the child having the desire to understand and rationalise the
diferent connections. Known as genealogical bewilderment, children born out and
aware of diferent circumstances such as surrogacy lead to the child's antisocial
behaviour, disrespect towards parents or an overall confusion. Therefore, surrogacy
can cause a fragmented family life and as believed in Islam, a strong family structure
of respect is essential for a Muslim society as shown in, "Your parents and your
children, ye know not which of them are nearest to you in beneft."
Although artifcial methods such as surrogacy seem the solution for infertile couples,
many disregard the possibility of adoption. This enforces a disadvantage of
surrogacy due to its high cost whereas adoption can lead to a deprived child being
given a life of love and care to which he/she deserves. Therefore, many argue that
spending money on methods such as surrogacy is unnecessary when there are
numbers of children in desperate need of a secure family life. Christians see
adoption as a gracious act and is simply one way that God can choose for couples to
be parents. For instance, Jeremiah 1:5 reads, "The child will be blessed, too, with the
security of knowing that God has been watching over and protecting him or her since
before birth" Therefore, adoption is the best alternative rather than surrogacy for
becoming parents as it shows the importance of each child born in the eyes of God.
As for more religious disagreements with surrogacy, one of the most common
arguments is that you must lead the life you are intended to by God. For instance,
Romans Catholics believe that anybody has the right to have children as they are a
gift from God, however if your are infertile it is because God has given you other
responsibilities for you to achieve in life. This is similar in Islam, as the Qur'an states
that children are seen as a gift from Allah and blessing, however on the other hand,
infertility is also seen as a fst as it a cause of a great reward either in this life or in
the after-life. For example, the Qur'an reads, "He bestows both males and females,
and He leaves barren whom He will: for He is full of knowledge and power."
Therefore, this shows that if you are infertile, you shouldn't seek to change the life
you were given by investing in artifcial ways of conception such as surrogacy and
instead invest time in achieving other rewards in life.
In conclusion, although many regard surrogacy as a failure to respect the welfare of
the child, I believe that with certain foundations made such as a happy surrogate and
a happy commissioning couple, surrogacy is benefcial and acceptable due to the
happiness it brings to those who are infertile. However, I personally feel as if the
issues surrounding the subordination of the quality of life for the child and the
surrogate in favour of the intended parents desire to have a child create major
inequality and perhaps create worse issues.