Surrogacy is the practice by which a woman carries and gives birth to a child for a couple who cannot have a child on their own. There are two types of methods: Traditional …show more content…
A contract for gestational surrogacy must meet the requirements to be valid; the legal mother cannot physically carry a baby to term, becoming pregnant would risk the mother 's health or would risk the health of the fetus. Once the health risk for the legal mother is established, the contract itself must be followed; the surrogate must seek medical treatment and follow medical advice for her prenatal health. The surrogate must agree to give up all parental rights when the child is born. The intended couple agrees to take full custody of the child and gestational surrogates agree to take on the parental rights for the child if neither one of the couple is the genetic parent. Also under Florida law, the couple cannot pay the surrogate an unreasonable amount of money. The parents may pay for reasonable living and medical expenses related directly to the …show more content…
The physician must first screen the intended parents and the surrogate mother. The screening includes fertility studies, medical screenings, and psychologic screening. Mental health counseling is also required to ensure that both parties know and prepare for any long term effects or risks that can occur with the prospective child. It is suggested that the arrangement is overseen by an agency with credentials same as an adoption agency. A physician that makes a referral to an agency must be sure that it is medically and ethically reputable. The physician should only get compensated for normal medical services. The physician should not refer the patients to a surrogacy program to gain financial means in order exploit both parties. The obstetrician-gynecologist should urge the intended parents and the surrogate mother to discuss any health-related issues and genetic or chromosomal abnormalities that would affect the surrogate to carry the child full term or the child may be born with a disability. The surrogate should only be compensated for her initiation and continuation of the pregnancy, her participation in the labor and delivery, and medical expenses during the