PHIL 3000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Surrogacy
19 Jun 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Issy Asianah
PHIL 3000- R23 (6:00PM-7:15PM)
20th February, 2018
Should surrogacy be allowed? PRP 9
Yes, surrogacy should be allowed. In most cases of surrogacy, the surrogate undergoes in vitro
fertilization where eggs are gathered from the mother and sperm gathered from the father.
Biologically, the child belongs to the parents who gave the gametes (sex cells) to the surrogate
mother. The surrogate mother acts as a vessel for the baby to try and give it a safe space to grow
outside of a lab or a test tube. There are contracts drawn up and no one is coerced into any
agreements. Surrogate mothers are adults and are fully aware of any physical and mental toll that
carrying a baby would have on a woman. They are allowed to do research and before embarking
on the journey, everyone should be fully aware of what they are getting into. Surrogate mothers
are well trained, monitored and regulated during the entire duration of the pregnancy. The couple
approach surrogate mothers with money and security during the process. It is also safe to assume
that they visit fertility clinics with proper antenatal care. During these visits, they are made aware
of whatever risks that come with this baby. Arguments are made for surrogate mothers who after
carrying the child want to keep it. First of all, it is manipulative of a person to demand another
couple’s child after contracts have been agreed to. A surrogate mother, after 40 weeks of
preparation and check-ups, should not then decide to keep a baby that she has already signed
over to the biological parents simply because she carried the baby. The child does not belong to
her legally and biologically. All parties involved are made fully aware of what they are getting
into. Surrogacies are like most other contracts that are drawn up. Like most contracts, the
benefits and costs are outlined for all parties. Surrogacies that are conducted under proper moral
and legal conditions should be allowed. It should also be noted that surrogacies are usually a last
resort for people who are unable to bear a child on their own. It is highly unusual that a couple
that can bear children on their own seek out surrogates and this is why the process is very long
and requires a lot of planning.
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
In most cases of surrogacy, the surrogate undergoes in vitro fertilization where eggs are gathered from the mother and sperm gathered from the father. Biologically, the child belongs to the parents who gave the gametes (sex cells) to the surrogate mother. The surrogate mother acts as a vessel for the baby to try and give it a safe space to grow outside of a lab or a test tube. There are contracts drawn up and no one is coerced into any agreements. Surrogate mothers are adults and are fully aware of any physical and mental toll that carrying a baby would have on a woman. They are allowed to do research and before embarking on the journey, everyone should be fully aware of what they are getting into. Surrogate mothers are well trained, monitored and regulated during the entire duration of the pregnancy. The couple approach surrogate mothers with money and security during the process.
