Title: Organizational selection and assessment of women entering a surrogacy agreement in the UK
Authors: OBA van den Akker
Journal: Human Reproduction, 14 (1): 262-266, 1999
In the UK, surrogacy procedures are unregulated and not monitored. Information concerning the selection and assessment of intended (the mother commissioning) and surrogate mothers (the mother carrying and delivering the baby) is therefore not generally available (BMA, 1996). It is important to determine what type of assessment is used, and how selection takes place within the organizations dealing with surrogate motherhood arrangements. The present survey enquired about the incidence, selection and assessment procedures of all registered surrogate and commissioning couples, and aimed to find out what advice and support is given. Eight organizations took part in the survey, six were clinics and two agencies dealing with surrogate arrangements. Two voluntary organizations/helplines were also su
rveyed, but their data are not relevant to the results presented here. An interview and questionnaire approach was used. Psychosocial assessment was minimally addressed by all organizations, and no fixed procedures for assessment and selection were employed. Despite this, few incidences of controversial cases were reported. Confidence in this practice could be increased in the future if both parties embarking on a surrogacy arrangement knew they were properly selected and assessed. A regulatory body could monitor consistent use of professional evidence-based criteria prior to arrangements.
Title: Legitimizing surrogacy in Israel
Authors: A Benshushan and JG Schenker
Journal: Human Reproduction, 12 (8): 1832-1834, 1997
Recently the Israeli Parliament passed legislation regarding all aspects of assisted reproductive techniques, including surrogacy. The main points of this legislation are presented and discussed. The most important aspects are: (I) a public committee authorizes and supervises every single case; (ii) only full surrogacy is permitted; (iii) the agreement is not commercial, reasonable expenses can be paid to the surrogate mother under the supervision of the Approving Committee; (iv) the surrogate mother must be single or divorced; (v) under certain conditions the surrogate mother can withdraw from the agreement; (vi) the child is under the tutelage of a social worker, representing the state, from birth until the completion of the adoption procedure. The religious, social and legal status of surrogate pregnancies worldwide are discussed.
Keywords: ethical aspects/legal aspects/legislation/surrogacy
Title: Trials and tribulations of surrogacy. Legislating gestation
Authors: G McGee
Journal: Human Reproduction, 12 (3): 407-411, 1997.
Title: Symposium: reference documents on the ethics and laws of human reproduction. Surrogacy: review for the UK health ministers of current arrangements for payments and regulation
Authors: M Brazier, S Golombok and A Campbell
Journal: Human Reproduction Update, 3 (6): 623-628, 1997.