Gauging the interests of birth mother and child: a qualitative study of Swedish social workers’ experiences of transnational gestational surrogacy

Abstract

Gauging the interests of birth mother and child: a qualitative study of Swedish social workers' experiences of transnational gestational surrogacy Avvägningar mellan den biologiska moderns och barnets intressen: En kvalitativ studie av svenska familjerättsekreterares erfarenheter av transnationellt surrogatmoderskap ABSTRACTThere are few studies on how social workers deal with cases regarding transnational surrogacy. Our study intends to contribute to filling this gap. In Sweden, surrogacy as an assisted reproductive technology method is not permitted. As a result, many prospective parents have turned abroad, mainly to India, for surrogacy. There are no laws regulating surrogacy in Sweden, and difficulties have arisen in establishing legal parenthood when the parents return with the child. This qualitative interview study with social workers found that legal uncertainty and ethical issues surrounded their handling. With no guidelines, the constructions of parenthood will continue to depend on individual social workers' conflicting views on how to best meet the surrogate mother's interest and the best interest of the child. Regulation is thus needed to better protect those involved and minimize the contingent aspects of legal handling by individual officials. ABSTRAKTDet finns få studier om hur socialarbetare handlägger ärenden som berör transnationellt surrogatmoderskap. Vår studie har för avsikt att bidra till att fylla detta tomrum. I Sverige är det inte tillåtet för sjukvården att utföra assisterad befruktning vid surrogatmoderskap. Detta har gjort att människor vänt sig utomlands för denna reproduktionsmetod, främst till Indien. Det finns inga lagar som reglerar surrogatmoderskap i Sverige, vilket har lett till svårigheter vid fastställande av rättsligt föräldraskap när föräldrarna återvänt med barnet. Denna kvalitativa intervjustudie med familjerättssekreterare har funnit att det finns rättslig osäkerhet och etiska frågeställningar som påverkar deras hantering av ärendet. Hur föräldraskap konstrueras i nuläget beror till stor del på enskilda familjerättssekreterares uppfattning om hur man bäst väger surrogatmammans intressen mot vad som är bäst för barnet. Avsaknad av riktlinjer och de etiska frågeställningarna har lett till osäker och olika hantering av ärendena, och en reglering behövs för att bättre skydda de inblandade och öka rättsäkerheten i handläggningen.

Being questioned as parents: An interview study with Swedish commissioning parents using transnational surrogacy

“…The consequences of unclear laws have made Swedish social service officials – those who deal with the issues around legal parenthood after surrogacy arrangements – struggle with concerns about the surrogate mother while simultaneously trying to secure the legal situation for the child ( Arvidsson et al, 2016 ). The issue for these officials was whether the surrogate mother had consented to the relinquishing of the child, which they were not able to establish as no direct contact was made with her.…”

“…A previous study among social service officials in Sweden indicated great disparities and uncertainty in the practice of legal parenthood decisions after surrogacy arrangements have been made ( Arvidsson et al, 2016 ). The aim of the present study was to investigate how Swedish commissioning parents have experienced the process of seeking official parenthood status when using transnational surrogacy.…”

Survey shows that Swedish healthcare professionals have a positive attitude towards surrogacy but the health of the child is a concern

“…They also indicated that they need more knowledge about surrogacy and the health of the surrogate mother, the child and family, as well as guidelines on how to care for the family group. Similarly, a study among Swedish social workers showed that the lack of clear guidelines about what laws were applicable when they were contacted by commissioning parents who wanted to become the legal parents of a surrogate child led them to handling the cases in different ways and with great uncertainty. These findings, combined with the discrepancies between beliefs about the child's health and previous research findings, highlight the need for educational interventions for healthcare professionals working in child health care, as well as the development of adequate guidelines on surrogacy.…”

Who Will Safeguard Transnational Surrogates’ Interests? Lessons from the Israeli Case Study

“…A study from Sweden (the only one we were able to identify in this context) reinforces this assumption. Arvidsson et al (2018) found that, while Sweden bans surrogacy, its social workers are nevertheless faced with Swedish intended parents' applications to legalize the status of children born through transnational surrogacy. In many cases, these social workers give up their moral beliefs against surrogacy, put aside their concerns regarding the foreign surrogates' interests and rights, and recommend the children be granted full legal status by the court.…”