Gestational Surrogacy: Current View

Abstract

Surrogate motherhood is an assisted procreation practice by which a woman gestates an embryo with which she has no biological relationship on behalf of a contracting couple or individual, having to relinquish the child to them after its birth. This practice normally entails a financial remuneration for the pregnant woman; when this is not the case, it is called altruistic surrogacy. From a medical perspective, potential problems for the surrogate and for children born through this practice should be taken into account, especially the existence of possible disabilities in the child. The bioethical aspects are of most interest because the practice of surrogacy objectifies the expectant mother, by using her body for a purpose other than her own good, treating her as a commodity, as a thing. The same is true for the child because it makes him a disposable object, something that can be instrumentalized, similarly objectifying him.

Bioethics of Assisted Reproductive Technology

“…The bioethical aspects are of most interest because the practice of surrogacy objectifies the expectant mother, by using her body for a purpose other than her own good, treating her as a commodity, as a thing. The same is true for the child because it makes him a disposable object, something that can be instrumentalized, similarly objectifying him' [87].…”

Overview of fertility preservation

“…Donor gametes are suitable for those who are not suitable for gamete retrieval, including those with ovarian malignancy or those who cannot produce gametes after anti-cancer treatments (eg, bilateral oophorectomy or orchiectomy). Gestational carrier, or gestational surrogacy, refers to a woman who gestates an embryo with no biological relationship for a couple or an individual and has to relinquish the child to them after its birth 71 . Gametes are from the couple with fertility needs and form an embryo in vitro before transplantation into the gestational carrier's uterus.…”

Análisis bioético del impacto de las Técnicas de Reproducción Asistida (TRA) en la salud de niños y madres

“…La primera afecta directamente tanto a la mujer que gesta a los niños, como al propio bien de éstos, pues con dicha práctica se cosifica a la mujer gestante, utilizándola para fines ajenos a su propio bien, y también al niño producido, el cual, por ser un producto, puede ser sometido a las leyes del mercado. 33 Estas dificultades bioéticas y morales hacen que la maternidad subrogada esté prohibida en la gran mayoría de los países.…”