A case for paid surrogate motherhood
Citation
Export citationvan Zyl, L. (2008). A case for paid surrogate motherhood. Paper presented at Bearing and Rearing Children: The Ethics of Procreation and Parenthood, 26-28 May 2008, Cape Town, South Africa.
Permanent Research Commons link: https://hdl.handle.net/10289/3897
Abstract
It has become commonplace to distinguish between altruistic and commercial surrogate motherhood. Altruistic surrogacy refers to cases where the surrogate mother is motivated by care or concern for an infertile couple, usually friends or relatives, to bear a child and then to transfer parental rights to them. Although she may be reimbursed for expenses associated with the pregnancy, she is not paid. Commercial surrogacy, on the other hand, is arranged through an agency which puts potential surrogates in contact with people wishing to employ their services. In addition to her expenses, the surrogate mother is paid a fee. Although both forms of surrogacy are morally controversial, the dominant view is that altruistic surrogacy is morally superior to, or at least less problematic than, commercial surrogacy.
Date
2008Rights
This paper has been presented at Bearing and Rearing Children: The Ethics of Procreation and Parenthood, 26-28 May 2008, Cape Town, South Africa. Used with permission.