RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Altruistic surrogacy: the necessary objectification of surrogate mothers
JF Journal of Medical Ethics
JO J Med Ethics
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Institute of Medical Ethics
SP 171
OP 175
DO 10.1136/jme.2008.024679
VO 35
IS 3
A1 M M Tieu
YR 2009
UL http://jme.bmj.com/content/35/3/171.abstract
AB One of the major concerns about surrogacy is the potential harm that may be inflicted upon the surrogate mother and the child after relinquishment. Even if one were to take the liberal view that surrogacy should be presumptively allowed on the basis of autonomy and/or compassion, evidence of harm must be taken seriously. In this paper I review the evidence from psychological studies on the effect that relinquishing a child has on the surrogate mother and while it appears that many surrogates are able to cope with relinquishment, I argue that there are good reasons, grounded in empirical evidence, to support the view that the subsequent management of the relinquishment necessarily objectifies the surrogate mother.