As we prepare for the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, we look forward to bringing joy to others and celebrating with family. There is no better time to celebrate the ultimate gift of family formation given by a surrogate mother.
Most often than not, we see the use of a gestational surrogacy as an option for family formation.
A Gestational Carrier, also known as Gestational Surrogate, is a woman who carries a pregnancy and gives birth to a child for another woman or couple. For a woman to serve as a Gestational Carrier, an embryo (created by the process of in vitro fertilization or IVF) is implanted in her uterus.
Gestational Surrogacy is the process where gametes, either from the people who want to become parents (Intended Parents) or those donated for the use of the Intended Parents, are used to create embryos which are implanted using IVF into the uterus of a woman who will carry and deliver, but not raise, the child. The Gestational Carrier is not genetically related to the child.
This selfless act by a surrogate for an intended family is the ultimate gift. So, this holiday season we want to recognize our surrogate mothers and the extraordinary gift that they bring to these intended families.
Review of such documents and the explanation of the legal ramifications by an attorney are always recommended in these instances, particularly an attorney that is experienced and knowledgeable in the terminology, contracts, procedures and ethics surrounding ART. That way, the patient is counseled on their understanding of the information presented, and can therefore give Informed Consent.
heARTbeat is a publication of KingSpry’s Adoption Law and Assisted Reproductive Technology Law Practice Group. It is meant to be informational and does not constitute legal advice.
