Growing Concerns Over Surrogacy Regulations
With the rising interest in surrogacy, it’s becoming increasingly important to talk about the industry’s regulations and the often dehumanizing experiences that can arise.
Cindy Bee, a venture capitalist from Silicon Valley, and her husband, both in their 40s, decided to pursue surrogacy to start a family. They connected with Surrogate Alternatives Inc. (SAI) in Southern California, where they were matched with a single mother who specifically wanted to carry male embryos.
Initially, everything seemed to be going well. The surrogate was pregnant with her son, and she adhered to all the necessary requirements set by the intended parents.
“She was perfect,” Bee recalled, mentioning her surrogate’s height, health, youth, and job. “I even showed her off to my friends. My only concern was her being a single mom, but I let that go.”
However, things took a turn when the surrogate experienced some early bleeding and went to the ER. It was there that Bee discovered the surrogate had shared her test results in a Facebook group while seeking advice. Although she didn’t name the surrogate, the details shared were enough for members to identify her.
As time went on, Bee’s relationship with the surrogate deteriorated. At one point, the surrogate was hospitalized after Bee sent numerous texts about insurance, and she began to worry about her well-being.
Shortly after a hospital discharge, a lawyer representing Bee and her husband requested that they sign documents that would give them control over their surrogate’s decisions regarding their unborn child. This was intended to ensure that they could make choices on behalf of their son, should it come to that.
Tragically, just weeks later, the situation escalated. The surrogate once again found herself in the ER, this time facing a dire outcome: the loss of her child as well as severe blood loss. Bee, devastated, sought to hold someone accountable for her son’s death.
In her pursuit of justice, she launched lawsuits against various parties involved, including the surrogate, hospitals, and medical professionals, spending a significant amount in legal fees. Bee contended that her son’s death was entirely preventable. A doctor informed her that complications arose due to a placenta issue, explaining that, while unfortunate, such things occur without clear reasons.
In response to her son’s death, Bee halted all payments to the surrogate, accusing her of fraud and enabling the insurance company to cease covering the surrogate’s medical bills.
The relationship became even more strained. The surrogate secured a restraining order against Bee, leading to a toxic environment between the two. “She wanted my son to die,” Bee asserted. “I’m the one who’s suffering here.”
This case isn’t isolated. As the American surrogacy industry becomes increasingly commercialized, with its worth now exceeding $5 billion, many of these situations remain hidden from public view. One could argue that while surrogacy provides hope for some, it also raises ethical concerns that need addressing.
Currently, there are minimal regulations surrounding surrogacy in the United States, giving rise to significant power imbalances. Intended parents often expect surrogates to prioritize their health and pregnancies, all while navigating a challenging landscape that inherently favors those with financial resources.
Pregnancy, a crucial aspect of life, seems to face a paradoxical treatment—a mix of inconvenience and economic calculation. The surrogacy industry risks turning this natural process into a mere transaction, drawing unsettling parallels to human trafficking.
This reality urges society to engage in open dialogue about the ethical dimensions surrounding surrogacy as more people navigate its murky waters.
