In response to an article on the rise in overseas surrogates increasing the risk of stateless babies, Lexi Ellingsworth, founder of Stop Surrogacy Now UK, argues that regulation cannot make surrogacy ethical or safe. She contends that every surrogacy arrangement begins with the deliberate separation of a newborn baby from their mother, with whom they have naturally bonded during pregnancy.
Medical Risks for Surrogate Mothers
Ellingsworth highlights that regulation cannot eliminate the physical risks borne exclusively by surrogate mothers. Citing a study in Canada, she notes that surrogate mothers are more likely to experience severe complications, including postpartum haemorrhage and pre-eclampsia, compared to women who conceived naturally or through IVF.
Limitations of Regulatory Frameworks
She points out that countries and US states with detailed regulatory frameworks continue to report concerns about the exploitation of economically vulnerable women, inadequate informed consent, and difficulties with oversight and enforcement. Laws may change how surrogacy is organised, but they have not consistently prevented abuses or addressed the inequalities that drive many women to engage with surrogacy.
Call for Ethical Reconsideration
Rather than assuming better regulation will make surrogacy ethical, Ellingsworth asks whether a practice that depends on separating a baby from their birth mother, while exposing women to significant medical risks and creating opportunities for exploitation, can ever be made safe.
