THE Surrogacy pathway · Gestational Surrogacy is when the genetic material that is going to be...

Fertility Design Clinic

Petroutsou & Vlahernon 17 St., Marousi, Athens, Greece

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Mobile Phone Nr. +30 6972111364

www.fertilitydesign.co.uk

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THE SURROGACY PATHWAY

The Surrogacy Pathway for commissioning couples in Greece – Information & Legal

Considerations

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents

Introduction _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 1

Surrogacy Motherhood Program: What is it? _________________________________________________________________ 2

Type of Surrogacy Agreement ___________________________________________________________________________________ 3

Legal Considerations _____________________________________________________________________________________________ 4

Legal Considerations _ Why Greece is unique __________________________________________________________________ 5

Legal Considerations _ Genetic Material Transportation (Embryos) from UK _______________________________ 6

Legal procedure __________________________________________________________________________________________________ 7

Legal Procedure _ Registration Procedure ____________________________________________________________________ 8

Our Clinics/Partnerships _ Athens ______________________________________________________________________________ 9

Our Clinics/Partnerships _ Chania _____________________________________________________________________________ 10

Why us ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 11

We guarantee….. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 12

Conclusion_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 13

The Surrogacy Pathway in Greece

Σελίδα 1

Which are the criteria of entering

an SMP?Step 1: Choose the doctor/clinic you want to undergo an SMP

Step 2: Choose the Surrogate Step 3:: Surrogacy

Notarial Agreement Step 4Legal Parenthood

transfer to the IPsStep 5: IVF treatment

Step 6: Conception & Child birth

Introduction

Surrogacy is increasingly becoming an option for starting a family for people who are

unable to conceive a child themselves.

Surrogacy constitutes an Assisted Reproduction Method nowadays as the need and

the dream for a child has been significantly upgraded. Every year, more and more

couples are familiar with the idea, overcoming the social and moral barriers they hold

and seek for “borrowed” mothers. The Greek Government and the National Assisted

Reproduction Authorities support Surrogacy as part of the range of assisted

conception options. Our view is that surrogacy is an alternative motherhood pathway

that its intention is to create happy families despite its complexion and uniqueness.


Σελίδα 2

Surrogacy Motherhood Program: What is it?

Surrogacy constitutes an Assisted Reproduction Method nowadays as the need and

the dream for a child has significantly upgraded. Every year, more and more couples

are familiar with the idea, overcoming the social and moral barriers they hold and

seek for “borrowed” mothers.

A surrogate mother is defined as a woman who is pregnant with an infant intended

for a couple who, however, is unable to become pregnant. In this case, the candidate

mother provides her own egg and the candidate father the semen and embryo (in

many cases multiple embryos) is transferred to the female patient who has no genetic

connection with the child.

IPs Criteria of considering an SMP

Recurrent miscarriages or pregnancy losses

Hysterectomy or uterus abnormalities making a conception impossible

Repeated failured Assisted Reproduction Treatments (IVF or ICSI)

Premature Ovarian Insufficiency

Serious health problems

Surrogate Criteria of considering entering an SMP

Proof of fertility

Maximum two (2) births till the program starts

No more than two (2) caesarian sections

Altruistic purpose – willing to end the program successfully

Successful records of Psychological & mental tests of her own as well as a

detailed family medical history

Blood test investigations from HIV I-II, HCV, HbsAg, VDRL (Syphilis)

No smoking, alcohol, drugs


Σελίδα 3

Type of Surrogacy Agreement

Gestational Surrogacy

Gestational Surrogacy is when the genetic material that is going to be used is not the

Surrogate’s Mother one.

In this case the genetic material comes:

a. Either from the Intended Parents (IPs) or

b. From an egg donor in certain case

There are three reasons why Gestational Surrogacy can occur:

a. Homosexual couples (using either sperm donor for female couples or using

egg donor for male couples– not always applicable)

b. Heterosexual couples where the intended mother’s eggs are fertilized with the

intended father’s sperm

c. Heterosexual couples where the intended father’s sperm fertilizes an

anonymous donor’s eggs, in certain cases

Traditional Surrogacy

Traditional Surrogacy is not allowed in Greece as the Surrogate mother is not allowed

to provide her own genetic material for conception according to the Greek legislation

and the National Assisted Reproduction Authorities.


Σελίδα 4

Legal Considerations

• Traditional Surrogacy is not allowed as the Surrogate according to the Greek law has no rights on the baby

• Greek Legislation allows foreign intended parents since 2014.

• A Court Decision in Greece is required.

• A Surrogacy agreement between all parties is required

• According to the Court decision the maternity clinic registers the baby under the Intended Parents (IPs) family name.

• The relative Registration Office provides a birth certificate under the

Intended Parents family name.

• According to the Court decision the Surrogate mother has no legal rights on the baby.


Σελίδα 5

Legal Considerations _ Why Greece is unique

• What is unique about Greece is that it is the only European country and one of the only countries in the world where the surrogate has no rights over the child. The intended parents become the legal parents of the child from conception and there is no mention of the surrogate mother anywhere on hospital or birth certificates.

• An added advantage for European is that, due to the Schengen Treaty, they can freely travel home as soon as the baby is born and deal with citizenship issues at that time, as opposed to applying at their own embassy in Greece.


Σελίδα 6

Legal Considerations _ Genetic Material Transportation (Embryos) from UK

• If the embryos are created from an anonymous Egg Donation program, then they can be transported to Greece in order to be used for a fertility treatment.

• If the embryos are created from a known donor then they cannot be transported to Greece in order to be used for a fertility treatment as known Egg Donation is not allowed according to the Greek legislation and the National Assisted Reproduction Authorities.

• In terms of Brexit (and if Great Britain will be considered a non-European

country) any genetic material transportation to Greece is not allowed according to the Greek National Authority of Assisted Reproduction.

• If the embryos are resulted from a previous fertility treatment of the couple (IPs) using their own genetic material (eggs and sperm) then their transportation to Greece is allowed according to both the British and Greek National Authority of Assisted Reproduction.


Σελίδα 7

Legal procedure

Intended parents prior to commencing the SMP in Greece they should be informed

by our lawyer in Greece at first regarding the SMP procedure in Greece. However, it

is also optional if the IPs wish to take advice from a native lawyer, especially in

terms of taking the baby back home. Our clinic cooperates with famous fertility

lawyers in UK.

• The Greek Lawyer prepares the court file of the intended parents

o birth certificates, marriage certificates or cohabitation

contract, family certificate, medical certificate that she

cannot carry a pregnancy, blood tests for infectious

diseases)

• The Greek Lawyer prepares the court file of the surrogate mother

o birth certificate, marriage certificate or cohabitation

contract, family certificate, medical and psychological tests)

o If the surrogate mother is married, her husband has to

undergo the same blood tests as her. Also he has to give his

approval in a notary in order for his wife to undergo this

procedure

• The Greek lawyer will submit the file on a selected date that the court will appoint

• The Greek court decision takes around 1 to 6 months

• Once the decision is positive the IVF part of the program can begin


Σελίδα 8

Legal Procedure _ Registration Procedure

• The birth of the baby will take place in a private maternity clinic in Athens

o Intended parents are notified 25 days prior to birth to allow arrangements to travel

• Following birth, the Intended Parents complete an application form with their names and contact details at the clinic to prepare registration documents

• Intended Parents appear at their country’s registration office with the court decision and the clinic’s papers to register the baby and receive a birth certificate as well as a temporary passport so as for the baby to be able to travel back home with the IPs.

• IPs contact their embassy and initiate the procedure for obtaining the

passport or “emergency passport” which is valid 1 month

o It depends from the embassy and the availability of the intended parents.

• IPs should be aware that some countries ask for the surrogate mother to sign the baby passport in order to travel and a parental order takes place afterwards.

• Because of the above we always advice the couples to be advised by a lawyer before they start the program and after the baby is born


Σελίδα 9

Our Clinics/Partnerships _ Athens

Our IVF Clinic in Athens offers a highly equipped laboratory, specialized doctors and

some of the best embryologists in Greece, trained in UK as well as a team of nurses

and midwifes that will make your journey to the child the smoothest and sweetest

they can! Our administration staff can guarantee a high service quality and our

doctors can definitely reassure the best possible treatment results! What is more,

Athens is a beautiful city, with a huge history and unique remnants to demonstrate!

Its culture, the historical civilization parts of Athens, its warm sun and the magnificent

gastronomy will definitely make your travel to the child as glorious and impressive as

it could be!


Σελίδα 10

Our Clinics/Partnerships _ Chania

Our IVF Clinic in Chania gives new perspectives and further chances to the couples that need us. People often like to combine their IVF treatment with a holiday, and, especially, in an island that constitutes one of the most preferable summer destinations worldwide, with daily direct flights from almost all over the world (we shouldn’t forget that holidays make mind and body come to a relaxing synchronization, a situation that indicates really high success results when it comes to embryo implantation). Crete is, after all, a small universe teeming with beauties and treasures that you will probably need a lifetime to uncover! Our specialized team is here to welcome you and make the journey to the child the sweetest it could be!


Σελίδα 11

Why us

Direct Communication

- Couple to Doctor

- Doctor to Doctor

We offer consultations in your country on a monthly basis (we just need to know in advance so as to book everything in prior to the meeting with the couple)

We provide full support (medical, humanistic, touristic, 24hour on call phone number for emergencies, legal supervising) to your couple from the time they land in Greece till the time they go back home

Unique service offer for Surrogacy – We take control of the whole

procedure and we organize everything for your couple

Skype consultation with your couple before their flight to Greece

- Feel more comfortable with us and our staff

- Friendly & warm environment

Competitive prices adjusted to the needs of the couple and your clinic

Certified Medical Services – ISO

Give choices to the couple to choose the location their treatment will be accomplished


Σελίδα 12

We guarantee…..

• Transparency of treatment • Communication in your language • Clinic accreditation – ISO of clinics

• Quality of medical services & management • No waiting time • No waiting list • Legislative regime • Combination of treatment and holidays • We take care of the couple’s accommodation, commuting, vacation if

required, 24hour support to the couple


Σελίδα 13

Conclusion

Nobody could derive the dream of yours of creating

your own family. Surrogacy IS an option and we will

would be more than happy to help all intended parents

make their deepest hopes and wishes come true! We

give choices, we establish values, we create lives & we

fulfil the pazl of your life!

THE Surrogacy pathway · Gestational Surrogacy is when the genetic material that is going to be...

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