SURROGACY: BOON OR BANE?

By – Achsah George Thomas

Surrogacy is when another woman carries and gives birth to a child for the couple

who wants to have a child. Surrogacy is when a woman becomes pregnant and

delivers a baby in order to give to someone who can not have a child. The history of

surrogacy can be seen in India from the ancient times, although it was legalized in

India very recently. For those who could not have a child yet want a child related to

them, surrogacy has become a boon for them. Surrogacy has its own merits and

demerits. Begetting a child by surrogate mothers has been practiced even by

Bollywood actors bringing social respectability and trendiness to the practice.

Earlier adoption was the only option remaining for the couples who

could not have babies. But now with the introduction of surrogacy, couples are able to

have their own baby completely or partially genetically related to them. Many

individuals view surrogacy as a boon for the infertile couples, but at the same time

many are against it saying women are not to be considered as baby sellers.

There are many negative effects related to surrogacy. The most

common problem related to surrogacy is health risk. Surrogate mothers face a major

issue relating to their health by getting pregnant. Health risk can be in the form of

high blood pressure, bleeding, pre mature labor. To avoid these risks surrogate

mothers depend on medical treatment such as drugs which in turn will affect the

health of the surrogate mother.

Carrying a baby for nine months and not able to own it is the worst pain a woman can

face. The deal in surrogacy is that the surrogate mother will not have any ownership

over the baby after delivery. Giving up on the child she carried for nine months is the

toughest part in a surrogate mother.

Surrogate mothers also face problems from the intended couples of the child. The

intended couples decides what should the surrogate mother eat, they decide which are

the exercises that the surrogate mother should perform in order to beget a healthy

baby.

Although there are many negative effects, there are positive effects of

surrogacy as well. Earlier if a couple did not have a child they had only two option,

adoption or remain childless. The process of surrogacy has managed to solve the

problems faced by infertile couples. Surrogate motherhood has enabled many infertile

couples to have their own children completely or partially related to them. The dream

of parenting a child has been granted by surrogacy for infertile couples.

Commercial surrogacy is morally and legally problematic since it

constitutes the sale of a child. Commercialization of surrogacy should not be

encouraged because in short it is the selling of a child to meet personal needs.

Surrogacy should be practiced only when the couples are infertile. Many opt for

surrogacy because many fear that pregnancy might hinder their career. Thus it is in

each ones hand to decide whether surrogacy is a boon or a bane.