Thoughts on the ethics of gestational surrogacy: perspectives from religions, Western liberalism, and comparisons with adoption

Abstract

Background In gestational surrogacy, a woman incubates an embryo to which she is not genetically related. Genetic distance from both her and the commissioning parents is increased further when donor gametes are employed. Ethical implications vary depending on the extent to which the parents and surrogates share genetic material with the produced child. Purpose This paper seeks to address two primary questions: What do selected ethical frameworks tell us of (1) the relationship between genetic motherhood, gestational motherhood, social motherhood, and marital fidelity? And (2) the effects of gestational surrogacy and gamete donation on our understanding of lineage and heritability? Methods Current literature and thought on these questions were considered through the classical ethics lenses of religion, the adoption standard, and Western liberalism. Results A genetic link between the parents and the child serves to simplify the adoption process (if one is required) and supports a family's desire to resemble as much as possible a traditional biological family, thus providing a minimum set of challenges to religious or conservative hesitations. Conclusion Inasmuch as gestational surrogacy, with or without donor gametes, is tolerated in a variety of ethical contexts; the basis of its acceptance may be the Western liberal celebration of contractual agreement.

Commercial Surrogacy: An Overview

“…The opinions concerning surrogacy within Christians are diverse, even though they are, in general, in disfavor of this technique. 185 Hindus regard infertility as a curse, which means they accept ART and surrogacy as a cure for infertility. 185 Regarding Buddhism, since there are few theories written about ART, as long as pain and harm are avoided, all practices are acceptable.…”

“…As so, the matter of surrogacy is conflicting. 185 Studies report a duality of criteria in high income countries regarding public opinion about surrogacy. Poll-based studies in Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Philippines, Spain and the USA revealed that more than half of general population would be in favor of surrogate treatments for heterosexual and same-sex couples.…”

“… 185 Hindus regard infertility as a curse, which means they accept ART and surrogacy as a cure for infertility. 185 Regarding Buddhism, since there are few theories written about ART, as long as pain and harm are avoided, all practices are acceptable. However, the very desire for a child through extraordinary means can also be seen as an unhealthy material attachment.…”

Procreación Natural versus ectogénesis

“…Actualmente, esta técnica es un fenómeno comercial global, existiendo diversas agencias encargadas de su desarrollo. [4] Para efectos de comparar los usos, aplicaciones e implicaciones bioéticas entre la maternidad subrogada y la ectogénesis, realizamos una revisión bibliográfica de un total de 39 artículos con fecha de publicación restringida a los últimos 5 años.…”

Maternal identity for Orthodox Jewish couples using donor oocytes or surrogacy is not well established

“…It must anticipate and address future issues that the couple might encounter, and that requires up-to-date authoritative information. Those relying on the recent conclusion in these pages [1] that Judaism grants maternity to the woman in whose womb the fetus gestates may find the Jewish status of their children is not fully accepted, and they are therefore unable to freely marry within the traditional Jewish community.…”