Nishat Paiker, Nov 4, 2015
So much of buzz is around surrogacy where different groups raising their voice for and against the commercialization of the technique which gave hope to many childIess couples around the world becoming a whopping over Rs. 2,500 crore market in India. It forces me to think about the most important part of this whole procedure - the surrogate mothers for whom the social groups, human rights bodies and our leaders etc., ‘seem’ to be so concerned about.
Surrogate mothers are ones who rent their womb under pressure of economical backlash they are facing. Many argue what is the harm if they do it willingly and make some (a good amount of 1-3 lakh) money for the economic class she comes from. The ‘amount’ which they cannot earn even in their lifetime!
But I was compelled to think why at all a woman is forced, although it is said she ‘willingly’ forces herself to the process of undergoing pain, labor, and emotional trauma to an extent of sometime endangering her life. All this is for what? To uplift her family, to pay her children’s school fees, help her husband a build a pucca house or a toilet and bathroom for her and family.
We talk about protection, safety and rights of women. But is this also not the duty of the state subjects (government) to ensure a right to decent life where she is not forced to put her body at stake for survival. Does surrogate mothers tales not sound like stories of thousands of women forced to prostitution? It is found even they (prostitutes) do not want to come out of it, as they need to make a living.
Surrogacy in India and the world has become a one big debate today. The law will be out as always. The question still remains, why women in our country are forced to lend their bodies, bear pain, face risk or torture themselves to survive and make a living. Respect, safety and right to life are our basic rights.
When the government plans to ban something exploiting women using their bodies, it should also give the alternative source to survive because the practice is not done out of choice but out of destitute. Here no need to mention the number of policies made for women upliftment but talk about the actual change brought at ground level including the change in the mindset of our society.
Ban commercial surrogacy but are you ready to uplift this vulnerable large section of our society living in slums behind the glittering high rises or in villages where their husbands are unable to earn enough to meet two meals a day and provide good education to their children.
Hospitals exploit, women ready to be exploited for money which they cannot earn in their lifetime will be given to them for just those ‘nine’ months. A win-win deal for many to argue! But at what cost?! Is this ‘willingness to be a surrogate mother’ not ‘forced’ on them –directly and indirectly? We need to think on that.
7 comments:
a very thoughtful post and glad that an educated and independent women is speaking up for the lesser fortunate women in our country...need more soul stirrers like you around.
thanks for visiting..encouraging :)
Its really painful to bear someone else baby and taking all risks just to get a little amount which they can't earn with other sources. They not only face health hazards but also go through a great mental trauma.
I think that surrogacy is good when it is made in appropriate way. It is a great opportunity for infertile to have native child. It is also a great opportunity for surrogates. They can earn some needed money. This money they need for own families and children. When surrogacy is commercial it can be good variant. The main thing is to protect rights of intended parents as well as surrogates. When everything takes place in a civilized way it is good. It is awful when women are used as a carrier. Sometimes bad educated women are used for surrogacy. As a result the receive nothing. It is not right. They must have good conditions and treatment. These women give birth to a new life. They do a great deed.
I had an experience of surrogacy use. I am infertile therefore surrogacy was my only way in my medical case. We decided to have the program in Ukraine. We were in biotexcom fertility center. I met there infertile couples from France, Spain, Germany, America, China, England and Israel. All of them are united by one goal. It is medical tourism and the possibility to use ART legally and inexpensively. And in the clinic, foreign patients are greeted friendly by managers. Starting to work with infertile couple, doctors use exclusively individual approach to each case. First of all doctor carries out a detailed diagnosis of patients, in order to accurately determine the cause of infertility and failed IVF attempts. They also examine in details surrogate mothers. In addition biotexcom surrogates have great conditions. They receive money and free medical care. I also want to say that surrogates there are educated and beautiful women. They are very pleasant women who just want to help infertile. As a result they have an opportunity to receive money. This funds they spent to support own children and families.
When you are expectant intended parents, you will probably do a lot worrying about your surrogate mother. As well as about baby she will carry and that is to be expected. One of the biggest concerns among intended parents is how the surrogate is going to react once the baby is born. What is her bond with the baby going to be like after birth? Is she going to feel attached to the baby in any way? These questions are completely valid and you have every right to ask them and think about. I was in biotexcom center. Choosing surrogate mothers to participate in the program doctors always examine if the candidate already have at least one child. She must child whom she has given birth to naturally. It is one of the initial surrogate screening’s aspect. It is crucial that if future surrogate mother has not had a pregnancy and parenting experience. It would be impossible for her to give any level of informed consent. And it may be difficult for her to empathize with the parent and the child. In addition to that it is a risky endeavor for a doctor to endorse women without any such obstetrical histories.
I agree with previous commentators. I also was there and it must be said that a great foreigners was in biotexcom clinic. It is very popular among European infertile couples. First of all because there are great surrogates there and law price for the program. One of the reasons it’s great to work with biotexcom is the screening process. When surrogates apply through this medical institution, they are interviewed by a skilled, licensed psychiatrist. This psychological evaluation occurs before any medications are administered or any embryo transfers take place. This evaluation allows the potential carrier the chance to really think about these issues. Psychological stability is one of the most essential requirements for being a surrogate mother. Therefore biotexcom doctors give a great attention to surrogate mothers’ and egg donors’ psychological condition. The clinical interviewer reviews the candidates’ history in an attempt to screen out women who have traumatic histories. This interviewer also addresses the candidate’s motivation. It is crucial that the candidate obtain something for herself beyond financial remuneration. In a word it can be good when everything is thought out in details appropriately.
Post a Comment