Is Surrogacy Ethical? (Full Version)

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solo_soprano22 -> Is Surrogacy Ethical? (1/26/2008 1:18:22 AM)

Is surrogate motherhood ethical, in your opinion?

I know some women do it for money, but some don't. Then there are other "factors."

(I didn't see a thread on this..not on its ethics.)



Okami -> RE: Is Surrogacy Ethical? (1/26/2008 2:14:31 PM)

I don't see anything wrong with it morally or Biblically really.
There might be some problems if it's done through actual sex though, but even that could be debated.

The main complication is that the surrogate gets attached to the baby she has been carrying for so long, and then the problems begin.



solo_soprano22 -> RE: Is Surrogacy Ethical? (1/26/2008 2:27:22 PM)

I'm talking about without sex, through in-vitro or artificial insemination.

I know sometimes surrogates change their minds, although, with this thread, I was thinking different things. More of is it ethical for someone else to grow/nourish a baby for someone else, is it ethical how the whole process is done (the eggs/sperm, depending on the methods), etc.



devinevessel -> RE: Is Surrogacy Ethical? (1/27/2008 7:19:23 PM)

I don't think it is unethical and I can't find any scriptures that speaks against it. Like Okami said the surrogate mother may get attatched to the baby. There may even be a bond between the surrogate mother and father of the child.

I don't have any problems with let's say a family member or a friend who becomes a surrogate for another family member or friend. I am not sure about doing it for money though. I don't know why I feel like this but it feels wrong to become a surrogate mother for money.



solo_soprano22 -> RE: Is Surrogacy Ethical? (1/28/2008 12:25:44 AM)

A lot of people think the money part is kind of odd...even if they can't pinpoint why they feel that way.

What if they were only compensated for hospital bills or something that pregnancy caused to their bodies that maybe disfigured them?



devinevessel -> RE: Is Surrogacy Ethical? (1/28/2008 12:30:34 AM)

Compensation for the medical bills wouldn't bother me. I don't know about disfigurement. I would think that's a risk one is taking...I don't know I guess I would really have to think about that one.



jennleigh -> RE: Is Surrogacy Ethical? (1/28/2008 1:48:50 AM)

Great Post! I have often wondered this, also. What about donating eggs? For example, if I decide I am finished having children, would it be ethical to donate my eggs so that other women could fulfill their dreams of having children - OR - is that possibly interfering with God's plan for those women to remain childless? It's something my husband and I have discussed often throughout the years, and I'm still not sure.

As for me, I am currently pregnant with my 4th boy, and I can tell you there is no way I could be a surrogate as I would become intensely attached to the baby immediately! I guess there are a lot of women out there who wouldn't though?



solo_soprano22 -> RE: Is Surrogacy Ethical? (1/28/2008 8:18:28 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: devinevessel

Compensation for the medical bills wouldn't bother me. I don't know about disfigurement. I would think that's a risk one is taking...I don't know I guess I would really have to think about that one.


Yeah, I'm thinking if someone wants a specific person, and that person asks for compensation if they get disfugured, that just doesn't seem wrong to me, esp. not if they agree to fix the problems.



DaveW -> RE: Is Surrogacy Ethical? (1/28/2008 12:42:15 PM)

I am sure I posted on this last year sometime....

I see surrogacy in the OT being used by Sarah (Haggar as surrogate) with Abraham and Leah and Rachel (with Bilhah and Zilpah as surrogates) with Jacob. Lacking modern technology, they had to do it the old fashioned way. The bible never condems these actions specifically. Yes, Abraham and Sarah are reproved for trying to make God's promise on their own. Jacob had no such reprimand. Were there troubles? Yes. But we never see the concept (pardon the pun) itself condemned in scripture.



Okami -> RE: Is Surrogacy Ethical? (1/28/2008 11:11:22 PM)

quote:

For example, if I decide I am finished having children, would it be ethical to donate my eggs so that other women could fulfill their dreams of having children - OR - is that possibly interfering with God's plan for those women to remain childless? It's something my husband and I have discussed often throughout the years, and I'm still not sure.


It probably isn't worth second-guessing yourself over, because really, if you want to follow that line, coouldn't God then decide for the egg to not work in them? And what if God had a plan for someone born into that family?
It just leads to a long line of "what ifs" causing you grief.



tenfour -> RE: Is Surrogacy Ethical? (2/1/2008 11:50:05 PM)

Well, in Genesis, Judah asked his second son, in a sense, to be a surrogate father for his brother's widow. And it says that God was displeased with him for not fulfilling this duty. Since that's the case, I would assume that surrogacy does not necessarily displease God.



tenfour -> RE: Is Surrogacy Ethical? (2/1/2008 11:55:28 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Okami

quote:

For example, if I decide I am finished having children, would it be ethical to donate my eggs so that other women could fulfill their dreams of having children - OR - is that possibly interfering with God's plan for those women to remain childless? It's something my husband and I have discussed often throughout the years, and I'm still not sure.


It probably isn't worth second-guessing yourself over, because really, if you want to follow that line, coouldn't God then decide for the egg to not work in them? And what if God had a plan for someone born into that family?
It just leads to a long line of "what ifs" causing you grief.



You could also say donating money to a certain church could interfere with God's plan for that church to struggle financially. Ultimately, we don't need to worry about whether we are interfering with God's plans, because we have no power over Him. As long as what you do is loving to God and fellow people, it is ethical.



bigboytenor -> RE: Is Surrogacy Ethical? (2/22/2008 3:35:37 AM)

I don't see any difference between this and adoption of a baby from, say, and unplanned pregnancy.



kj88il -> RE: Is Surrogacy Ethical? (3/5/2008 4:33:54 PM)

i seriously considered being a surrogate a few years ago. unfortunately, after doing some research, i found i was "too old," at the age of just 38! lol i found that amusing, considering how many women begin having families "late in life" nowadays. i'm sure i could've pursued it further, but i didn't.

i also considered it unfortunate. i am adopted, and thank God for giving me to a wonderful, Christian family. i know there are often concerns with the surrogate growing too attached to the baby, but i truly feel i would not have had that problem. i already have 2 beautiful children, in or nearing their teens, and absolutely no desire to go back to "square one."

i would've considered it one of my greatest blessings to be able to help another woman become a mommy. i truly believe God can use surrogacy as a blessing for those couples who cannot have their own baby.



Bluethread -> RE: Is Surrogacy Ethical? (3/5/2008 4:59:43 PM)

The problem with in-vitro is it requires "selective-reduction"(abortion) unless you want to have a litter. There are plenty of children who need parents in our society. I believe, the examples in the Scriptures with regard to surrogates(Hagar,Billah,Zilpah) show that it leads to many social problems.



GroupW -> RE: Is Surrogacy Ethical? (3/5/2008 5:35:29 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bluethread

The problem with in-vitro is it requires "selective-reduction"(abortion) unless you want to have a litter. There are plenty of children who need parents in our society.


Not always. There are doctors who are willing to implant single embryos.



Bluethread -> RE: Is Surrogacy Ethical? (3/5/2008 6:28:41 PM)

It still sounds like a work around.



solo_soprano22 -> RE: Is Surrogacy Ethical? (3/5/2008 6:35:30 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: GroupW

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bluethread

The problem with in-vitro is it requires "selective-reduction"(abortion) unless you want to have a litter. There are plenty of children who need parents in our society.


Not always. There are doctors who are willing to implant single embryos.


Some of that depends on what you think an abortion is. Not everyone (even Christians) think that way.



GroupW -> RE: Is Surrogacy Ethical? (3/5/2008 6:37:55 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bluethread

It still sounds like a work around.


How so? If only one embryo is created, and only one implanted?
A work-around for what issue?



Bluethread -> RE: Is Surrogacy Ethical? (3/5/2008 6:59:54 PM)

quote:

GroupW:

How so? If only one embryo is created, and only one implanted?
A work-around for what issue?


A Sarah suggesting that Abraham have children through Hagar to fulfill the promise of Adonai. We can see how well that worked out.



MissInnocent -> RE: Is Surrogacy Ethical? (3/5/2008 9:43:18 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: kj88il
i seriously considered being a surrogate a few years ago. unfortunately, after doing some research, i found i was "too old," at the age of just 38!


That's odd, considering that I recently heard of a case nearby of a 56-yr-old woman being a surrogate mother for her daughter.


quote:

ORIGINAL: Bluethread

The problem with in-vitro is it requires "selective-reduction"(abortion) unless you want to have a litter.


It's not REQUIRED. It's suggested and most cases of IVF only yield twins or triplets not what most would consider "a litter."



solo_soprano22 -> RE: Is Surrogacy Ethical? (3/5/2008 9:55:28 PM)

One of my professors was a medical doctor (he teaches me medical/bio ethics). He has an MD, was a leading surgeon in the country, has a doctorate in physiology and graduate-level degrees in theology. He was also a pastor. He told us yesterday that the medical community generally considers women above a certain age not to be good candidates. (The reason why I said HE said it was just to say that I haven't researched it on my own, but it makes sense.) Then he also said there are these cases (I think the oldest one was a 64-year-old woman?) that call that itself into question. It may be that there is some kind of consensus, but there's always someone willing to try it anyway.



MissInnocent -> RE: Is Surrogacy Ethical? (3/5/2008 10:11:37 PM)

Maybe it was because the lady in my post was doing it for a family member and not a stranger situation. *shrugs*



kj88il -> RE: Is Surrogacy Ethical? (3/5/2008 10:51:26 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: MissInnocent

Maybe it was because the lady in my post was doing it for a family member and not a stranger situation. *shrugs*



that was my first thought. i was looking at agencies...being a non-family/close friend situation, i wanted to make sure i was covered legally, ya' know?



Focusing -> RE: Is Surrogacy Ethical? (8/12/2008 3:13:18 PM)

Have you seen this recent article dealing with surrogacy in India?

Clearly the birth mother felt she had fulfilled her "job" and would have nothing more to do with the baby. I get the impression she didn't care whether or not her child died.

So, as far as surrogacy being ethical ... perhaps this puts a new spin on the thought / purpose behind it. Personally, I feel for these women to be "baby factories" and "discard" their child by being done with "it" once the birthing has happened is completely unethical. A baby is a human life, not a commodity.



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