The United States is the world class destination for couples, domestic and overseas, who want a child but for whatever reasons cannot or will not conceive one the old fashioned way. Only the rich need apply however. The draw is our "sophisticated fertility clinics, experienced lawyers, a large pool of egg donors and surrogates, and, especially, established legal precedent."
First let me say I have taken liberally from the NYT article listed under Sources. Next let me say that if you read the article, and it is a long one, you may find yourself reflecting on a few things.
Here are some that I am reflecting upon:
"How much will a surrogate be paid for a cesarean section, multiple births - or loss of her uterus?"
"What if the intended parents die during the pregnancy?"
"How long will the surrogate abstain from sex?"
"If she needs bed rest, how much will the intended parents pay to replace her paycheck, and cover childcare and housekeeping?"
What happens to the baby if the intended couple get a divorce before the baby's birth?
Ever heard of "selective reduction'? I sure haven't. It arises in cases of multiple births … get it, selective reduction.
The United States leaves surrogacy up to the states. Some allow it and some don't. In Canada and Britain a surrogate can only get her expenses paid or socalled 'altruistic surrogacy'. In California surrogacy is considered a business and thus for profit. Ah those free market guys, huh?
Speaking of the business angle, one guy from China wanted 'five gestational surrogates' he planned to keep two babies and sell three.
One surrogate's fetus was found to have a brain cleft. The intended parents were not in the market for a defective child and told the surrogate to get an abortion.
There is more to this story. The surrogate could not bring herself to abort and found a couple who would take the child. Later she says, "I found them on Facebook, and there's no trace of him, so I think they gave him up for adoption ... " "I don't know where he is, and it kills me every day."
Some couples from overseas sometimes can't get their home country to accept a citizenship application for the surrogate child.
China still has a one child policy so a hukou, which is a household registration card, cannot be issued. I don't know what that means, but I'm guessing it has something to do with enforcing the one child policy.
And finally there is something called 'social surrogacy'. This occurs when a woman wants a baby but without all the interruptions to her career and/or her figure.
Source:
Coming to U.S. for Baby, and Womb to Carry It
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/06/us/foreign-couples-heading-to-america-for-surrogate-pregnancies.html?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Ar%2C%5B%22RI%3A7%22%2C%22RI%3A15%22%5D
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