tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22648836093752287152024-03-19T04:47:36.576-04:00I am a product of surrogacyThis is a blog written about surrogacy, and other 3rd party donor issues such has egg donation, and sperm donation. It's written from the perspective of someone who is a product of surrogacy. jakiam83http://www.blogger.com/profile/00535452453931609688noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2264883609375228715.post-71747369276326212132014-06-16T00:24:00.001-04:002014-06-16T00:24:40.611-04:00RejectionFor almost two years now I've been trying to deal with the feeling of rejection from my biological mother. I still feel extremely blessed to have found her because, it did inform me so much about myself and I got to meet a huge extended family through her. But, I still haven't figured out how to get past that feeling. As I have been reading other donor conceived blogs, and read about other donor conceived going through similar experiences or being rejected before they even got to meet their parent and or siblings it reminds me that I'm not alone. That this is just another one of the pits for third party reproduction for some of us.<br />
My relationship with my biological mom deteriorated after some time, and the loss and rejection that I felt was extremely deep. I've tried to maintain hope that time may mend fences, but alternately trying to accept the fact that I'm not entitled to a relationship with anyone, and just to cherish the people in my life who I do have.<br />
In life we all have relationships that end romantic relationships, friendships etc. I know that time heals those wounds, but I don't know that time is going to heal this. Are there any donor conceived out there who have been in this situation and have made it to the other side? I would love to hear from you.jakiam83http://www.blogger.com/profile/00535452453931609688noreply@blogger.com170tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2264883609375228715.post-51087760113882080522014-02-10T11:39:00.001-05:002014-02-10T11:39:19.631-05:00Taking on reproductive justice by Rebecca Liaw, Business Intern The author of this article is writing about a lecture she attended given by Dr. Hille Haker at LMU. The topic was on the ethics and morality of assisted reproduction. There is definitely a growing voice out there questioning these issues, seeing this restores my faith in people!<br />
<br />
Points that the author made that I wanted to highlight are:<br />
<br />
"<span class="paragraph-1">Did you know an egg donor can make between
$5,000 and $10,000 for an embryo egg “donation?” Young women,
particularly those struggling to pay college bills, are scouted for in
magazines and newspapers to donate their eggs or be surrogate mothers."</span><br />
<br />
<span class="paragraph-1">"</span><span class="paragraph-1"> As Haker said, egg donors and surrogate mothers make the autonomous
choice to offer their services, but they often are ot aware of the
severe psychological trauma that can arise from anything from birth
complications to having to finally turn over their child to even the
nagging thoughts that arise years later."</span><br />
<br />
<span class="paragraph-1">"</span><span class="paragraph-1">These procedures, in theory, should be freeing; the ability to
pre-screen for health issues allows for parents to pick and choose which
pregnancies are essentially “worth it.”" I'd like to point out that this industry increases the number of abortions that are performed. Some are due to the genetic screening, but it's also due to the fact that too many embryos are transferred over to surrogates which causes a need to selective fetal reduction to ensure a safe pregnancy. This is done to ensure a higher success rate of pregnancy since the process is costly. I won't state my personal views on abortion, but should we be creating situations intentionally for abortions? </span><br />
<br />
<br />
"To paraphrase Dr. Haker, as a society, we have failed the parents and
children of our world because we have forgotten to acknowledge and
forgive. We should remember the mothers and fathers, weary yet hopeful,
waiting in the glow of anticipated parenthood for their children. We
need to recognize surrogate mothers, most often young women at the ends
of their rope, but with enough strength and grace to offer themselves
and their children. And we need to remember the children who, from
whatever circumstances of surrogacy, adoption and assistance, will grow
into young men and women who might desire to find their origins of their
conception into being.<br />
When society overlooks actual people in favor of “high” morals and standards, that is when we have failed as a people."<br />
<br />
This is where I don't fall o the same page as Dr. Haker. I think we as a society need to keep the high morals. The high morals are what would keep children safe. This is not at all to say that I don't empathize with the parents who are struggling to start there family. But as I've stated many times in my blog, please look to traditional adoption, or being a foster parent. Children are not a right, they are a blessing. When we put the message out their that we are entitled to have children, we are demeaning the rights of the people who are conceived this way to know their biology. One person's right should not outweigh another. <br />
<br />
For the full article please follow the link below. <br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.laloyolan.com/opinion/taking-on-reproductive-justice/article_771780be-90fd-11e3-b9a1-0017a43b2370.html?fb_action_ids=10152288082152642&fb_action_types=og.recommends&fb_ref=.Uvj40CI9NJ8.like&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=[412813648862844]&action_type_map=[%22og.recommends%22]&action_ref_map=[%22.Uvj40CI9NJ8.like%22]" target="_blank">http://www.laloyolan.com/opinion/taking-on-reproductive-justice/article_771780be-90fd-11e3-b9a1-0017a43b2370.html?fb_action_ids=10152288082152642&fb_action_types=og.recommends&fb_ref=.Uvj40CI9NJ8.like&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=[412813648862844]&action_type_map=[%22og.recommends%22]&action_ref_map=[%22.Uvj40CI9NJ8.like%22]</a>jakiam83http://www.blogger.com/profile/00535452453931609688noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2264883609375228715.post-4396242732843702662014-02-10T11:04:00.003-05:002014-02-10T11:04:54.167-05:00New York State Assembly Bill No. A06701I'm highly saddened to see another piece of legislation aimed at legalizing surrogacy, where I don't see anything that protects children in the most basic of levels. From my perspective, when I read this bill I see that the goals of the bill are to clear up any legal custodial issues that might arise from a surrogacy agreement. I see that we want to ensure that surrogates have a right to be paid for their services.<br />
<br />
Why am I not seeing that we should require home studies to be done prior to children being conceived through these technologies?<br />
<br />
One thing that is highly agreed upon within the donor conception community is that anonymity should not be allowed. In reading this bill I see that there are provisions for using anonymous donor gametes. But, I feel that there are some parents who fear that if their donors were known it would complicate the custodial issues for them, so they would prefer not to know the donor or allow the children to know their biological parent. <br />
<br />
The word "donor" from the get go is a misnomer. Very few actually "donate" their sperm or egg, they're usually financially compensated. That means it's not a donation! But this profit driven industry has captured all the feel good vocabulary and pushed it so much, that we as a society don't even question it. These feel good words take place of, bought & sold, abandoned, etc.<br />
<br />
If you are someone who is considering using 3rd party "donor" conception please read the bill below. The link below will take to the website where the bill is listed.While reading the bill try and put yourself in the shoes of someone who is donor conceived. Notice how the intended parents are protected (which ultimately helps clinics who participate in this have their finances increased) the surrogates, but not the children. Try and imagine the feelings you could have towards this industry, when we see that from the get go donor conceived children aren't treated as a blessing, but a right. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=&bn=A06701&term=2013&Summary=Y&Memo=Y&Text=Y" target="_blank">http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=&bn=A06701&term=2013&Summary=Y&Memo=Y&Text=Y</a><br />
<br />
<h3 id="jump_to_Summary">
A06701 Summary:</h3>
<pre>BILL NO A06701
SAME AS <span>SAME AS <a href="http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?term=2013&bn=S04617" style="cursor: pointer;">S04617</a></span>
SPONSOR Paulin (MS)
COSPNSR Titone, Lavine, Zebrowski, Weprin, Robinson, Galef, Jaffee, Otis,
Scarborough, Gabryszak, Cook, Boyland, Stirpe, Benedetto
MLTSPNSR Bronson, Gottfried, Markey, Millman, Rosa, Wright
Add Art 5-C Parts 1 - 7 SS581-101 - 581-703, Fam Ct Act; rpld S73 & Art 8, Dom
Rel L
Establishes the child-parent security act to legally establish a child's
relationship with his or her parents.</pre>
<a href="http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=&bn=A06701&term=2013&Summary=Y&Memo=Y&Text=Y#" style="font-size: smaller; font-style: italic;">Go to top</a><hr size="1" />
<h3 id="jump_to_Memo">
A06701 Memo:</h3>
<pre>BILL NUMBER:A6701
TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the family court act, in relation to
establishing the child-parent security act; and to repeal section 73
and article 8 of the domestic relations law, relating to legitimacy of
children born by artificial insemination and surrogate parenting
contracts
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To legally establish a child's relationship to his or her parents.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 adds a new article 5-C to the Family Court Act, enacting the
"Child-Parent Security Act." Part one of the article provides
definitions. Part two establishes the requirements and procedure for
obtaining a judgment of parentage of a child born: through assisted
reproduction or artificial insemination, pursuant to a gestational
carrier arrangement, and for a child whose parentage is established
pursuant to section 581-601 of article 581-C. Part three sets forth
provisions for determining the parentage of a child of assisted
reproduction or artificial insemination. Part four authorizes
gestational carrier agreements and sets forth the requirements of such
agreements. Part five sets forth the conditions for reimbursement and
compensation to donors and gestational carriers. Part six provides
for determination of parenthood where an individual can demonstrate by
clear and convincing evidence that the parent of the child consented
to the formation of a parent-child relationship with the child, the
person resided in the same household with the child for a length of
time sufficient to have established a parental relationship with the
child, the person performed parental functions to a significant
degree, and the person formed a pa rent-child bond with the child.
Section 2 repeals section 73 of the Domestic Relations Law.
Section 3 repeals Article 8 of the Domestic Relations Law.
Section 4 provides the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
New York law has failed to keep pace with medical advances in assisted
reproduction, causing uncertainty about who the legal parents of a
child are upon birth. In many cases, parentage created through these
technologies is not recognized under current law. This is not only
detrimental to the child; it also causes confusion in many critical
situations. For example, a hospital does not know who must give
consent when a newborn requires medical procedures.
Importantly, this legislation lifts the ban on surrogacy contracts to
permit gestational carrier agreements and sets forth the criteria for
such agreements. When all of the requirements set forth in the law are
met, the intended parents can obtain an "Order of Parentage" from a
court prior to the birth of the child, so that upon birth, the
intended parents are the legal parents. The requirements are designed
to ensure that all parties enter into the agreement on equal footing
and with full knowledge of their duties and obligations. For example,
all parties must be represented by independent legal counsel, and the
agreement may not limit the right of the carrier to make her own
healthcare decisions.
Because of New York's laws, couples facing infertility and same-sex
couples are forced to go out of state in order to have a child via
gestational carrier. This is overly burdensome to the parents, who
have often already struggled for many years to have a child. Having an
out-of-state gestational carrier does not allow for the parents to
fully participate in the pregnancy by attending doctor's appointments,
etc.. It also requires the participants to use out-of-state clinics
and medical professionals despite the fact that New York is home to
world-class medical facilities and fertility professionals.
This legislation also establishes a legal procedure for a partner of a
biological or adoptive parent who has formed a parental bond with a
child after birth, with the consent of the biological or adoptive
parent to be declared a parent. This will allow such an individual to
continue to have a relationship with the child should the relationship
with the biological or adoptive parent dissolve.
The Child-Parent Security Act will provide clear and decisive legal
procedures to ensure that each child's relationship to his or her
parent(s) is legally recognized. The new legal procedures will take
into consideration the best interests of the child and the need for
clarity and stability in family relationships. It is crucial that New
York updates its laws to reflect all the ways in which families are
formed.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A10499, 2012, referred to judiciary.
FISCAL IMPLICATION:
None
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it
shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition,
amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the
implementation of this act on its effective date is authorized to be
made on or before such date.
</pre>
<a href="http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=&bn=A06701&term=2013&Summary=Y&Memo=Y&Text=Y#" style="font-size: smaller; font-style: italic;">Go to top</a><hr size="1" />
<h3 id="jump_to_Text">
A06701 Text:</h3>
<pre> S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
6701
2013-2014 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
April 16, 2013
___________
Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN, TITONE, LAVINE, ZEBROWSKI, WEPRIN, ROBIN-
SON, GALEF, JAFFEE, OTIS, MAISEL, SCARBOROUGH, GABRYSZAK, COOK,
BOYLAND -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. GOTTFRIED, MARKEY, MILLMAN,
ROSA, WRIGHT -- read once and referred to the Committee on Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the family court act, in relation to establishing the
child-parent security act; and to repeal section 73 and article 8 of
the domestic relations law, relating to legitimacy of children born by
artificial insemination and surrogate parenting contracts
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
1 Section 1. The family court act is amended by adding a new article 5-C
2 to read as follows:
3 ARTICLE 5-C
4 CHILD-PARENT SECURITY ACT
5 PART 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS (581-101 - 581-103)
6 2 JUDGMENT OF PARENTAGE (581-201 - 581-206)
7 3 CHILD OF ASSISTED REPRODUCTION OR ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION
8 (581-301 - 581-307)
9 4 GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT (581-401 - 581-411)
10 5 PAYMENT TO DONORS AND GESTATIONAL CARRIERS (581-501 - 581-502)
11 6 FORMATION OF LEGAL PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP AFTER BIRTH OF CHILD
12 (581-601)
13 7 MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS (581-701 - 581-703)
14 PART 1
15 GENERAL PROVISIONS
16 SECTION 581-101. SHORT TITLE.
17 581-102. PURPOSE.
18 581-103. DEFINITIONS.
19 S 581-101. SHORT TITLE. THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE KNOWN AND MAY BE CITED
20 AS THE "CHILD-PARENT SECURITY ACT".
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05071-04-3
A. 6701 2
1 S 581-102. PURPOSE. THE PURPOSE OF THIS ARTICLE IS TO LEGALLY ESTAB-
2 LISH A CHILD'S RELATIONSHIP TO HIS OR HER PARENTS.
3 S 581-103. DEFINITIONS. (A) "ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION" MEANS INSERTION
4 OF SPERM INTO FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS BY ANY MEANS OTHER THAN SEXUAL
5 INTERCOURSE, INCLUDING INTRAUTERINE INSEMINATION, WITH THE INTENT TO
6 CAUSE A PREGNANCY.
7 (B) "ASSISTED REPRODUCTION" INCLUDES ALL FERTILITY TREATMENTS IN WHICH
8 BOTH EGGS AND SPERM ARE HANDLED. IN THE FOREGOING CONTEXT, THE TERM
9 INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION AND TRANSFER OF
10 EMBRYOS INCLUDING DONATED GAMETES OR DONATED EMBRYOS.
11 (C) "ART PROVIDER" MEANS ANY ENTITY WHICH ASSISTS WITH ASSISTED REPRO-
12 DUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY.
13 (D) "ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY" OR "ART" IS ANY MEDICAL OR
14 SCIENTIFIC INTERVENTION, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ASSISTED REPROD-
15 UCTION, PROVIDED FOR THE PURPOSE OF ACHIEVING LIVE BIRTH THAT RESULTS
16 FROM ASSISTED CONCEPTION. ASSISTED CONCEPTION MEANS THE FORMATION OF A
17 HUMAN EMBRYO OUTSIDE THE BODY WITH THE INTENT TO PRODUCE A LIVE BIRTH.
18 (E) "CHILD" MEANS A LIVE BORN INDIVIDUAL OF ANY AGE WHOSE PARENTAGE
19 MAY BE DETERMINED UNDER THIS ACT OR OTHER LAW.
20 (F) "COLLABORATIVE REPRODUCTION" INVOLVES ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION WITH
21 DONOR SPERM AND ANY ASSISTED REPRODUCTION IN WHICH AN INDIVIDUAL OTHER
22 THAN THE INTENDED PARENT PROVIDES GENETIC MATERIAL OR AGREES TO ACT AS A
23 GESTATIONAL CARRIER. IT CAN INCLUDE, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, (1) ATTEMPTS
24 BY THE INTENDED PARENT TO CREATE A CHILD THROUGH MEANS OF A GESTATIONAL
25 ARRANGEMENT, WITH OR WITHOUT THE INVOLVEMENT OF A DONOR, AND (2)
26 ASSISTED REPRODUCTION INVOLVING A DONOR WHERE A GESTATIONAL CARRIER IS
27 NOT USED.
28 (G) "COMPENSATION" MEANS PAYMENT OF ANY VALUABLE CONSIDERATION FOR
29 TIME, EFFORT, PAIN AND/OR RISK TO HEALTH IN EXCESS OF REASONABLE MEDICAL
30 AND ANCILLARY COSTS.
31 (H) "DONOR" MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO PRODUCES EGGS OR SPERM USED FOR
32 ASSISTED REPRODUCTION OR ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION, WHETHER OR NOT FOR
33 CONSIDERATION. DONOR ALSO INCLUDES AN INDIVIDUAL OR INDIVIDUALS WITH
34 DISPOSITIONAL CONTROL OF AN EMBRYO WHO PROVIDE IT TO ANOTHER PERSON FOR
35 THE PURPOSE OF GESTATION AND RELINQUISHES ALL PRESENT AND FUTURE
36 PARENTAL AND INHERITANCE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS TO A RESULTING CHILD.
37 THE TERM DOES NOT INCLUDE AN INTENDED PARENT WHO PROVIDES GAMETES TO BE
38 USED FOR ASSISTED REPRODUCTION OR ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION.
39 (I) "EMBRYO" MEANS A CELL OR GROUP OF CELLS CONTAINING A DIPLOID
40 COMPLEMENT OF CHROMOSOMES OR GROUP OF SUCH CELLS, NOT A GAMETE OR
41 GAMETES, THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO DEVELOP INTO A LIVE BORN HUMAN BEING
42 IF TRANSFERRED INTO THE BODY OF A WOMAN UNDER CONDITIONS IN WHICH
43 GESTATION MAY BE REASONABLY EXPECTED TO OCCUR.
44 (J) "EMBRYO TRANSFER" MEANS ALL MEDICAL AND LABORATORY PROCEDURES THAT
45 ARE NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE THE TRANSFER OF AN EMBRYO INTO THE UTERINE
46 CAVITY.
47 (K) "GAMETE" MEANS A CELL CONTAINING A HAPLOID COMPLEMENT OF DNA THAT
48 HAS THE POTENTIAL TO FORM AN EMBRYO WHEN COMBINED WITH ANOTHER GAMETE.
49 SPERM AND EGGS ARE GAMETES. A GAMETE MAY CONSIST OF NUCLEAR DNA FROM ONE
50 HUMAN BEING COMBINED WITH THE CYTOPLASM, INCLUDING CYTOPLASMIC DNA, OF
51 ANOTHER HUMAN BEING.
52 (L) "GAMETE PROVIDER" MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO PROVIDES SPERM OR EGGS
53 FOR USE IN ASSISTED REPRODUCTION OR ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION.
54 (M) "GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT" IS A CONTRACT BETWEEN INTENDED PARENTS AND
55 A GESTATIONAL CARRIER INTENDED TO RESULT IN A LIVE BIRTH WHERE THE CHILD
56 WILL BE THE LEGAL CHILD OF THE INTENDED PARENTS.
A. 6701 3
1 (N) "GESTATIONAL CARRIER" MEANS AN ADULT WOMAN, NOT AN INTENDED
2 PARENT, WHO ENTERS INTO A GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT TO BEAR A CHILD WHO WILL
3 BE THE LEGAL CHILD OF THE INTENDED PARENTS SO LONG AS SHE HAS NOT
4 PROVIDED THE EGG USED TO CONCEIVE THE RESULTING CHILD.
5 (O) "GESTATIONAL CARRIER ARRANGEMENT" MEANS THE PROCESS BY WHICH A
6 GESTATIONAL CARRIER ATTEMPTS TO CARRY AND GIVE BIRTH TO A CHILD CREATED
7 THROUGH ASSISTED REPRODUCTION SO LONG AS THE GESTATIONAL CARRIER HAS NOT
8 PROVIDED THE EGG USED TO CONCEIVE THE RESULTING CHILD.
9 (P) "HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER" MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL LICENSED OR CERTI-
10 FIED UNDER TITLE EIGHT OF THE EDUCATION LAW ACTING WITHIN HIS OR HER
11 SCOPE OF PRACTICE.
12 (Q) "INTENDED PARENT" IS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO MANIFESTS THE INTENT AS
13 PROVIDED IN THIS ACT TO BE LEGALLY BOUND AS THE PARENT OF A CHILD
14 RESULTING FROM ASSISTED REPRODUCTION OR COLLABORATIVE REPRODUCTION.
15 (R) "IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION" MEANS THE FORMATION OF A HUMAN EMBRYO
16 OUTSIDE THE HUMAN BODY.
17 (S) "MEDICAL EVALUATION" MEANS AN EVALUATION AND CONSULTATION WITH A
18 HEALTH CARE PROVIDER REGARDING THE ANTICIPATED PREGNANCY.
19 (T) "PARENT" MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS ESTABLISHED A PARENT-CHILD
20 RELATIONSHIP UNDER THIS ACT OR OTHER LAW AND INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMIT-
21 ED TO: (1) A CHILD'S BIRTH PARENT WHO IS NOT A GESTATIONAL CARRIER OR
22 THE SPOUSE OF THE GESTATIONAL CARRIER; (2) A CHILD'S GENETIC PARENT WHO
23 IS NOT THE DONOR; (3) AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS LEGALLY ADOPTED THE CHILD;
24 (4) AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS A PARENT OF THE CHILD PURSUANT TO A LEGAL
25 PRESUMPTION; (5) AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS A PARENT OF THE CHILD PURSUANT TO
26 AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OR JUDGMENT OF PARENTAGE PURSUANT TO ARTICLE TWO OF
27 THIS ACT OR OTHER LAW; (6) AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS A PARENT OF THE CHILD
28 PURSUANT TO ARTICLE THREE, FOUR, OR SIX OF THIS ACT.
29 (U) "PARTICIPANT" MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO PROVIDES A BIOLOGICAL OR
30 GENETIC COMPONENT OF ASSISTED REPRODUCTION OR ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION,
31 AN INTENDED PARENT, AND THE SPOUSE OF AN INTENDED PARENT OR GESTATIONAL
32 CARRIER. GESTATION IS A BIOLOGICAL COMPONENT WITHIN THE MEANING OF THIS
33 DEFINITION.
34 (V) "RECORD" MEANS INFORMATION INSCRIBED IN A TANGIBLE MEDIUM OR
35 STORED IN AN ELECTRONIC OR OTHER MEDIUM THAT IS RETRIEVABLE IN PERCEIVA-
36 BLE FORM.
37 (W) "RETRIEVAL" MEANS THE PROCUREMENT OF EGGS OR SPERM FROM A GAMETE
38 PROVIDER.
39 (X) "SPOUSE" MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL MARRIED TO ANOTHER, OR WHO HAS A
40 LEGAL RELATIONSHIP ENTERED INTO UNDER THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OR
41 OF ANY STATE, LOCAL OR FOREIGN JURISDICTION, WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY
42 EQUIVALENT TO A MARRIAGE, INCLUDING A CIVIL UNION OR DOMESTIC PARTNER-
43 SHIP.
44 (Y) "STATE" MEANS A STATE OF THE UNITED STATES, THE DISTRICT OF COLUM-
45 BIA, PUERTO RICO, THE UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS, OR ANY TERRITORY OR
46 INSULAR POSSESSION SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
47 (Z) "TIME OF TRANSFER" MEANS THE TIME AT WHICH A GAMETE OR EMBRYO IS
48 TRANSFERRED INTO THE BODY OF A WOMAN WITH THE INTENT TO PRODUCE LIVE
49 BIRTH.
50 (AA) "TRANSFER" MEANS THE PLACEMENT OF AN EMBRYO OR GAMETES INTO THE
51 BODY OF A WOMAN WITH THE INTENT TO ACHIEVE PREGNANCY AND LIVE BIRTH.
52 PART 2
53 JUDGMENT OF PARENTAGE
54 SECTION 581-201. JUDGMENT OF PARENTAGE.
A. 6701 4
1 581-202. PROCEEDING FOR JUDGMENT OF PARENTAGE OF A CHILD BORN
2 THROUGH ASSISTED REPRODUCTION OR ARTIFICIAL INSEMINA-
3 TION.
4 581-203. PROCEEDING FOR JUDGMENT OF PARENTAGE OF A CHILD BORN
5 PURSUANT TO A GESTATIONAL CARRIER ARRANGEMENT.
6 581-204. PROCEEDING FOR JUDGMENT OF PARENTAGE OF A CHILD WHOSE
7 PARENTAGE IS ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION 581-601
8 OF THIS ARTICLE.
9 581-205. JUDGMENT OF PARENTAGE FOR INTENDED PARENTS WHO ARE
10 SPOUSES.
11 581-206. JURISDICTION.
12 S 581-201. JUDGMENT OF PARENTAGE. (A) A CIVIL PROCEEDING MAY BE MAIN-
13 TAINED TO ADJUDICATE THE PARENTAGE OF A CHILD UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES
14 SET FORTH IN THIS ARTICLE. THIS PROCEEDING IS GOVERNED BY THE NEW YORK
15 CIVIL PRACTICE LAW AND RULES.
16 (B) A JUDGMENT OF PARENTAGE MAY BE ISSUED PRIOR TO BIRTH BUT SHALL NOT
17 BECOME EFFECTIVE UNTIL THE BIRTH OF THE CHILD.
18 (C) A JUDGMENT OF PARENTAGE SHALL BE ISSUED BY THE COURT UPON THE
19 PETITION OF (1) A CHILD, OR (2) A PARENT, OR (3) A PARTICIPANT, OR (4)
20 THE SUPPORT/ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY AUTHORIZED
21 BY OTHER LAW, OR (5) A REPRESENTATIVE AUTHORIZED BY LAW TO ACT FOR AN
22 INDIVIDUAL WHO WOULD OTHERWISE BE ENTITLED TO MAINTAIN A PROCEEDING BUT
23 WHO IS DECEASED, INCAPACITATED, OR A MINOR, IN ORDER TO LEGALLY ESTAB-
24 LISH THE CHILD-PARENT RELATIONSHIP UNDER THE FOLLOWING CIRCUMSTANCES:
25 (I) A CHILD BORN THROUGH ASSISTED REPRODUCTION OR ARTIFICIAL INSEMINA-
26 TION UNDER PART THREE OF THIS ARTICLE; OR
27 (II) A CHILD BORN PURSUANT TO A GESTATIONAL CARRIER ARRANGEMENT UNDER
28 PART FOUR OF THIS ARTICLE; OR
29 (III) A CHILD WHOSE PARENTAGE CAN BE ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO PART SIX
30 OF THIS ARTICLE.
31 S 581-202. PROCEEDING FOR JUDGMENT OF PARENTAGE OF A CHILD BORN
32 THROUGH ASSISTED REPRODUCTION OR ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION. (A) A
33 PROCEEDING FOR A JUDGMENT OF PARENTAGE MAY BE COMMENCED:
34 (1) IF THE INTENDED PARENTS RESIDE IN NEW YORK STATE, IN THE COUNTY
35 WHERE THE INTENDED PARENTS RESIDE ANY TIME AFTER PREGNANCY IS ACHIEVED
36 OR IN THE COUNTY WHERE THE CHILD WAS BORN OR RESIDES; OR
37 (2) IF THE INTENDED PARENTS AND CHILD DO NOT RESIDE IN NEW YORK STATE,
38 UP TO NINETY DAYS AFTER THE BIRTH OF THE CHILD IN THE COUNTY WHERE THE
39 CHILD IS BORN.
40 (B) THE PETITION FOR A JUDGMENT OF PARENTAGE MUST BE VERIFIED AND
41 INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
42 (1) A STATEMENT THAT THE INTENDED PARENTS HAVE BEEN RESIDENTS OF THE
43 STATE FOR AT LEAST NINETY DAYS OR IF THEY ARE NOT NEW YORK STATE RESI-
44 DENTS, THE CHILD WAS BORN IN THE STATE; AND
45 (2) A STATEMENT FROM THE GESTATING MOTHER THAT SHE BECAME PREGNANT AS
46 A RESULT OF THE DONATION OF THE GAMETES OR EMBRYOS AND A REPRESENTATION
47 OF NON-ACCESS DURING THE TIME OF CONCEPTION; AND
48 (3) A STATEMENT THAT THE INTENDED PARENTS CONSENTED TO ASSISTED
49 REPRODUCTION OR ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 581-304 OF
50 THIS ARTICLE; AND
51 (4) WHERE THE GAMETES OR EMBRYOS WERE RECEIVED FROM A GAMETE OR EMBRYO
52 STORAGE FACILITY, AN ATTACHED STATEMENT FROM THE FACILITY HAVING CUSTODY
53 OF THE GAMETES OR EMBRYOS DEMONSTRATING THE DONATIVE INTENT OF THE
54 GAMETE OR EMBRYO DONOR.
55 (C) THE FOLLOWING SHALL BE DEEMED SUFFICIENT PROOF OF A DONOR'S DONA-
56 TIVE INTENT:
A. 6701 5
1 (1) IN THE CASE OF AN ANONYMOUS DONOR, A STATEMENT FROM THE GAMETE OR
2 EMBRYO STORAGE FACILITY WITH CUSTODY OF THE GAMETES OR EMBRYOS THAT THE
3 DONOR RELINQUISHED ANY PARENTAL OR PROPRIETARY INTEREST IN THE GAMETES
4 OR EMBRYOS AT THE TIME OF DONATION; AND
5 (2) IN THE CASE OF A DONATION FROM A KNOWN DONOR, A NOTARIZED STATE-
6 MENT FROM THE GAMETE OR EMBRYO DONOR ACKNOWLEDGING THE DONATION AND
7 CONFIRMING THAT THE DONORS HAVE NO PARENTAL OR PROPRIETARY INTEREST IN
8 THE GAMETES OR EMBRYOS. IN THE ABSENCE OF A NOTARIZED STATEMENT FROM THE
9 DONOR, THE DONOR SHALL BE SERVED BY MAIL AT THE DONOR'S LAST KNOWN
10 ADDRESS WITH NOTICE OF THE PROCEEDING. FAILURE TO RESPOND TO SAID NOTICE
11 SHALL BE CONSIDERED A DEFAULT AND NO FURTHER NOTICE SHALL BE REQUIRED.
12 (D) WHERE A PETITION DEMONSTRATES THE CONSENT OF THE INTENDED PARENTS
13 PURSUANT TO SECTION 581-304 OF THIS ARTICLE, THE DONATIVE INTENT OF THE
14 GAMETE OR EMBRYO DONORS AND THAT THE PREGNANCY RESULTED FROM THE
15 DONATION, THE COURT SHALL ISSUE A JUDGMENT OF PARENTAGE:
16 (1) DECLARING, THAT UPON THE BIRTH OF THE CHILD, THE INTENDED PARENTS
17 ARE THE ONLY LEGAL PARENTS OF THE CHILD; AND
18 (2) ORDERING THE INTENDED PARENTS TO ASSUME SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR
19 THE MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT OF THE CHILD IMMEDIATELY UPON THE BIRTH OF
20 THE CHILD; AND
21 (3) ORDERING THAT UPON THE BIRTH OF THE CHILD, A COPY OF THE JUDGMENT
22 OF PARENTAGE BE SERVED ON THE (I) DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OR NEW YORK CITY
23 DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND HYGIENE, OR (II) REGISTRAR OF BIRTHS IN
24 THE HOSPITAL WHERE THE CHILD IS BORN AND DIRECTING THAT THE HOSPITAL
25 REPORT THE PARENTAGE OF THE CHILD TO THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENT OF
26 HEALTH IN CONFORMITY WITH THE COURT ORDER. IF AN ORIGINAL BIRTH CERTIF-
27 ICATE HAS ALREADY ISSUED, THE COURT SHALL ISSUE AN ORDER DIRECTING THE
28 APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO AMEND THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE IN AN
29 EXPEDITED MANNER AND SEAL THE PREVIOUSLY ISSUED BIRTH CERTIFICATE.
30 S 581-203. PROCEEDING FOR JUDGMENT OF PARENTAGE OF A CHILD BORN PURSU-
31 ANT TO A GESTATIONAL CARRIER ARRANGEMENT. (A) THE PROCEEDING MAY BE
32 COMMENCED AT ANY TIME AFTER THE GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT HAS BEEN EXECUTED
33 BY ALL OF THE PARTIES. ANY PARTY TO THE GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT NOT JOIN-
34 ING IN THE PETITION MUST BE SERVED WITH NOTICE OF THE PROCEEDING. FAIL-
35 URE TO RESPOND TO THE NOTICE SHALL BE CONSIDERED A DEFAULT AND NO
36 FURTHER NOTICE SHALL BE REQUIRED.
37 (B) THE PETITION FOR A JUDGMENT OF PARENTAGE MUST BE VERIFIED AND
38 INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
39 (1) A STATEMENT THAT THE GESTATIONAL CARRIER OR THE INTENDED PARENTS
40 HAVE BEEN RESIDENTS OF THE STATE FOR AT LEAST NINETY DAYS AT THE TIME
41 THE GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT WAS EXECUTED; AND
42 (2) A CERTIFICATION FROM THE ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING THE PETITIONERS
43 THAT THE PARTIES ARE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GESTATIONAL CARRIER
44 ARRANGEMENT AS REQUIRED BY SECTION 581-404 OF THIS ARTICLE AND THAT THE
45 GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT CONTAINS THE REQUIRED TERMS UNDER SECTION 581-405
46 OF THIS ARTICLE; AND
47 (3) A STATEMENT THAT THE PARTIES ENTERED INTO THE GESTATIONAL AGREE-
48 MENT KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY.
49 (C) WHERE A PETITION SATISFIES SUBDIVISION (B) OF THIS SECTION, THE
50 COURT SHALL ISSUE A JUDGMENT OF PARENTAGE, WITHOUT ADDITIONAL
51 PROCEEDINGS OR DOCUMENTATION:
52 (1) DECLARING, THAT UPON THE BIRTH OF A CHILD BORN DURING THE TERM OF
53 THE GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT, THE INTENDED PARENTS ARE THE LEGAL PARENTS OF
54 THE CHILD; AND
A. 6701 6
1 (2) DECLARING, THAT UPON THE BIRTH OF A CHILD BORN DURING THE TERM OF
2 THE GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT, THE GESTATIONAL CARRIER, AND HER SPOUSE, IF
3 ANY, ARE NOT THE LEGAL PARENTS OF THE CHILD; AND
4 (3) ORDERING THE GESTATIONAL CARRIER AND HER SPOUSE, IF ANY, TO TRANS-
5 FER THE CHILD TO THE INTENDED PARENTS IF THIS HAS NOT ALREADY OCCURRED;
6 AND
7 (4) ORDERING THE INTENDED PARENTS TO ASSUME SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR
8 THE MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT OF THE CHILD IMMEDIATELY UPON THE BIRTH OF
9 THE CHILD; AND
10 (5) ORDERING THAT UPON THE BIRTH OF THE CHILD, A COPY OF THE JUDGMENT
11 OF PARENTAGE BE SERVED ON THE (I) DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OR NEW YORK CITY
12 DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND HYGIENE, OR (II) REGISTRAR OF BIRTHS IN
13 THE HOSPITAL WHERE THE CHILD IS BORN AND DIRECTING THAT THE HOSPITAL
14 REPORT THE PARENTAGE OF THE CHILD TO THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENT OF
15 HEALTH IN CONFORMITY WITH THE COURT ORDER. IF AN ORIGINAL BIRTH CERTIF-
16 ICATE HAS ALREADY ISSUED, THE COURT SHALL ISSUE AN ORDER DIRECTING THE
17 APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO AMEND THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE IN AN
18 EXPEDITED MANNER AND SEAL THE PREVIOUSLY ISSUED BIRTH CERTIFICATE.
19 (D) THE AGREEMENT OF THE INTENDED PARENTS TO PAY REASONABLE COMPEN-
20 SATION TO THE GESTATIONAL CARRIER IN EXCESS OF REASONABLE MEDICAL AND
21 ANCILLARY COSTS SHALL NOT BE A BAR TO THE ISSUANCE OF A JUDGMENT OF
22 PARENTAGE.
23 S 581-204. PROCEEDING FOR JUDGMENT OF PARENTAGE OF A CHILD WHOSE
24 PARENTAGE IS ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION 581-601 OF THIS ARTICLE. A
25 PROCEEDING FOR A JUDGMENT OF PARENTAGE MAY BE COMMENCED BY VERIFIED
26 PETITION TO ESTABLISH PARENTAGE UNDER SECTION 581-601 OF THIS ARTICLE AT
27 ANY TIME IN THE COUNTY OF RESIDENCE OF THE CHILD OR OF A PARENT, INCLUD-
28 ING A PERSON ASSERTING TO HAVE FORMED A PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP WITH A
29 CHILD UNDER SECTION 581-601 OF THIS ARTICLE. UPON A DETERMINATION OF
30 PARENTAGE UNDER SECTION 581-601 OF THIS ARTICLE, THE COURT SHALL ISSUE A
31 JUDGMENT OF PARENTAGE DECLARING THE PARENTS OF THE CHILD FOR ALL LEGAL
32 PURPOSES.
33 S 581-205. JUDGMENT OF PARENTAGE FOR INTENDED PARENTS WHO ARE SPOUSES.
34 NOTWITHSTANDING OR WITHOUT LIMITATION ON PRESUMPTIONS OF PARENTAGE THAT
35 APPLY, A JUDGMENT OF PARENTAGE MAY BE OBTAINED UNDER THIS PART BY
36 INTENDED PARENTS WHO ARE EACH OTHER'S SPOUSE.
37 S 581-206. JURISDICTION. PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE MAY BE
38 INSTITUTED IN THE SUPREME, FAMILY OR SURROGATE'S COURT EXCEPT FOR
39 PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO SECTION 581-204 OF THIS PART MAY BE INSTITUTED
40 IN THE SUPREME OR FAMILY COURT.
41 PART 3
42 CHILD OF ASSISTED REPRODUCTION OR ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION
43 SECTION 581-301. SCOPE OF ARTICLE.
44 581-302. STATUS OF DONOR.
45 581-303. PARENTAGE OF CHILD OF ASSISTED REPRODUCTION OR ARTIFI-
46 CIAL INSEMINATION.
47 581-304. CONSENT TO ASSISTED REPRODUCTION OR ARTIFICIAL INSEMI-
48 NATION.
49 581-305. LIMITATION ON SPOUSES' DISPUTE OF PARENTAGE OF CHILD OF
50 ASSISTED REPRODUCTION AND ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION.
51 581-306. EFFECT OF DISSOLUTION OF RELATIONSHIP OF SPOUSES OR
52 WITHDRAWAL OF CONSENT.
53 581-307. EFFECT OF DEATH OF INTENDED PARENT.
54 S 581-301. SCOPE OF ARTICLE. THIS ARTICLE DOES NOT APPLY TO THE BIRTH
55 OF A CHILD CONCEIVED BY MEANS OF SEXUAL INTERCOURSE.
A. 6701 7
1 S 581-302. STATUS OF DONOR. A DONOR IS NOT A PARENT OF A CHILD
2 CONCEIVED BY MEANS OF ASSISTED REPRODUCTION OR ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION
3 EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 581-303 OF THIS PART.
4 S 581-303. PARENTAGE OF CHILD OF ASSISTED REPRODUCTION OR ARTIFICIAL
5 INSEMINATION. (A) AN INDIVIDUAL WHO PROVIDES GAMETES FOR ASSISTED
6 REPRODUCTION OR ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION WITH THE INTENT TO BE A PARENT
7 OF THE CHILD, OR CONSENTS TO ASSISTED REPRODUCTION OR ARTIFICIAL INSEMI-
8 NATION AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 581-304 OF THIS PART, IS A PARENT OF THE
9 RESULTING CHILD FOR ALL LEGAL PURPOSES.
10 (B) UPON APPLICATION BY ANY PARTICIPANT, THE COURT SHALL ISSUE A JUDG-
11 MENT OF PARENTAGE TO ANY PARTICIPANT WHO IS A PARENT PURSUANT TO THIS
12 ACT.
13 S 581-304. CONSENT TO ASSISTED REPRODUCTION OR ARTIFICIAL INSEMINA-
14 TION. (A) WHERE THE INTENDED PARENT WHO GIVES BIRTH TO A CHILD BY MEANS
15 OF ASSISTED REPRODUCTION OR ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION IS A SPOUSE, THE
16 CONSENT OF BOTH SPOUSES TO THE ASSISTED REPRODUCTION OR ARTIFICIAL INSE-
17 MINATION IS PRESUMED AND NEITHER SPOUSE MAY CHALLENGE THE PARENTAGE OF
18 THE CHILD, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 581-305 OF THIS PART.
19 (B) CONSENT TO ASSISTED REPRODUCTION OR ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION BY AN
20 INDIVIDUAL WHO INTENDS TO BE A PARENT AND IS NOT THE SPOUSE OF THE
21 INTENDED PARENT WHO GIVES BIRTH TO A CHILD BY MEANS OF ASSISTED REPROD-
22 UCTION OR ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION MUST BE IN A SIGNED RECORD WHICH
23 ACKNOWLEDGES THE INTENDED PARENTS' JOINT PARTICIPATION AND INTENTION TO
24 PARENT TOGETHER.
25 (C) THE FAILURE OF A PERSON TO SIGN A RECORD EVIDENCING HIS/HER
26 CONSENT AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (B) OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT
27 PRECLUDE A FINDING THAT SUCH CONSENT EXISTED IF THE COURT FINDS BY CLEAR
28 AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE THAT AT THE TIME OF THE CHILD'S CONCEPTION OR
29 BIRTH, BOTH THE INTENDED PARENT WHO GIVES BIRTH TO THE CHILD AND SUCH
30 PERSON RESIDED IN THE SAME HOUSEHOLD AS INTIMATE PARTNERS, AND HELD
31 THEMSELVES AND EACH OTHER OUT AS THE PARENTS OF THE INTENDED CHILD.
32 S 581-305. LIMITATION ON SPOUSES' DISPUTE OF PARENTAGE OF CHILD OF
33 ASSISTED REPRODUCTION AND ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION. (A) EXCEPT AS OTHER-
34 WISE PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (B) OF THIS SECTION, NEITHER SPOUSE MAY
35 CHALLENGE THE PRESUMPTION OF PARENTAGE OF THE CHILD UNLESS:
36 (1) WITHIN TWO YEARS AFTER LEARNING OF THE BIRTH OF THE CHILD A
37 PROCEEDING IS COMMENCED TO ADJUDICATE PARENTAGE; AND
38 (2) THE COURT FINDS BY CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE THAT EITHER
39 SPOUSE DID NOT CONSENT FOR THE NON-GESTATING SPOUSE TO BE A PARENT OF
40 THE CHILD.
41 (B) A PROCEEDING FOR A JUDGMENT OF PARENTAGE MAY BE MAINTAINED AT ANY
42 TIME IF THE COURT DETERMINES THAT:
43 (1) THE SPOUSE DID NOT PROVIDE GAMETES FOR, OR CONSENT TO, ASSISTED
44 REPRODUCTION OR ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION BY THE INDIVIDUAL WHO GAVE
45 BIRTH; AND
46 (2) THE SPOUSE AND THE INDIVIDUAL WHO GAVE BIRTH HAVE NOT COHABITED
47 SINCE THE SPOUSE KNEW OR HAD REASON TO KNOW OF THE PREGNANCY; AND
48 (3) THE SPOUSE NEVER OPENLY HELD OUT THE CHILD AS HIS OR HER OWN.
49 (C) THE LIMITATION PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION APPLIES TO A SPOUSAL
50 RELATIONSHIP THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED INVALID AFTER ASSISTED REPRODUCTION
51 OR ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION.
52 S 581-306. EFFECT OF DISSOLUTION OF RELATIONSHIP OF SPOUSES OR WITH-
53 DRAWAL OF CONSENT. AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WITHDRAWS CONSENT PRIOR TO TRANS-
54 FER IS NOT A PARENT.
55 S 581-307. EFFECT OF DEATH OF INTENDED PARENT. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE
56 PROVIDED IN THE ESTATES, POWERS AND TRUSTS LAW, IF AN INDIVIDUAL WHO
A. 6701 8
1 CONSENTED IN A RECORD TO BE A PARENT BY ASSISTED REPRODUCTION OR ARTIFI-
2 CIAL INSEMINATION DIES BEFORE THE TRANSFER OF EGGS, SPERM, OR EMBRYOS,
3 THE DECEASED INDIVIDUAL IS NOT A PARENT OF THE RESULTING CHILD UNLESS
4 THE DECEASED INDIVIDUAL CONSENTED IN A SIGNED RECORD THAT IF ASSISTED
5 REPRODUCTION OR ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION WERE TO OCCUR AFTER DEATH, THE
6 DECEASED INDIVIDUAL WOULD BE A PARENT OF THE CHILD.
7 PART 4
8 GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT
9 SECTION 581-401. GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT AUTHORIZED.
10 581-404. ELIGIBILITY.
11 581-405. REQUIREMENTS OF GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT.
12 581-406. TERMINATION OF GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT.
13 581-407. GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT: EFFECT OF SUBSEQUENT SPOUSAL
14 RELATIONSHIP.
15 581-408. FAILURE TO OBTAIN A JUDGMENT OF PARENTAGE.
16 581-409. DISPUTE AS TO GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT.
17 581-410. INSPECTION OF RECORDS.
18 581-411. EXCLUSIVE, CONTINUING JURISDICTION.
19 S 581-401. GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT AUTHORIZED. (A) IF ELIGIBLE UNDER
20 THIS ARTICLE TO ENTER INTO A GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT, A GESTATIONAL CARRI-
21 ER, HER SPOUSE IF APPLICABLE, AND THE INTENDED PARENTS MAY ENTER INTO A
22 GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT WHICH WILL BE ENFORCEABLE PROVIDED THE GESTATIONAL
23 AGREEMENT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS ARTICLE.
24 (B) A GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT SHALL NOT APPLY TO THE BIRTH OF A CHILD
25 CONCEIVED BY MEANS OF SEXUAL INTERCOURSE.
26 (C) A GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT MAY PROVIDE FOR PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION
27 UNDER PART FIVE OF THIS ARTICLE.
28 (D) A GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT MAY NOT LIMIT THE RIGHT OF THE GESTATIONAL
29 CARRIER TO MAKE DECISIONS TO SAFEGUARD HER HEALTH.
30 S 581-404. ELIGIBILITY. (A) A GESTATIONAL CARRIER SHALL BE ELIGIBLE
31 TO ENTER INTO AN ENFORCEABLE GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT UNDER THIS ARTICLE IF
32 SHE HAS MET THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS AT THE TIME THE GESTATIONAL
33 AGREEMENT IS EXECUTED:
34 (1) SHE IS AT LEAST TWENTY-ONE YEARS OF AGE; AND
35 (2) SHE HAS COMPLETED A MEDICAL EVALUATION WITH A HEALTH CARE PRACTI-
36 TIONER RELATING TO THE ANTICIPATED PREGNANCY; AND
37 (3) SHE HAS UNDERGONE LEGAL CONSULTATION WITH INDEPENDENT LEGAL COUN-
38 SEL REGARDING THE TERMS OF THE GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT AND THE POTENTIAL
39 LEGAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE GESTATIONAL CARRIER ARRANGEMENT; AND
40 (4) SHE HAS, OR THE GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT STIPULATES THAT PRIOR TO THE
41 EMBRYO TRANSFER, SHE WILL OBTAIN, A HEALTH INSURANCE POLICY THAT COVERS
42 MAJOR MEDICAL TREATMENTS AND HOSPITALIZATION, AND THE HEALTH INSURANCE
43 POLICY HAS A TERM THAT EXTENDS THROUGHOUT THE DURATION OF THE EXPECTED
44 PREGNANCY AND FOR EIGHT WEEKS AFTER THE BIRTH OF THE CHILD; THE POLICY
45 MAY BE PROCURED AND PAID FOR BY THE INTENDED PARENTS ON BEHALF OF THE
46 GESTATIONAL CARRIER PURSUANT TO THE GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT.
47 (B) THE INTENDED PARENTS SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO ENTER INTO AN ENFORCEA-
48 BLE GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT UNDER THIS ARTICLE IF HE, SHE, OR THEY HAVE
49 MET THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS AT THE TIME THE GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT WAS
50 EXECUTED:
51 (1) HE, SHE, OR THEY HAVE UNDERGONE LEGAL CONSULTATION WITH INDEPEND-
52 ENT LEGAL COUNSEL REGARDING THE TERMS OF THE GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT AND
53 THE POTENTIAL LEGAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE GESTATIONAL CARRIER ARRANGEMENT;
54 AND
A. 6701 9
1 (2) HE OR SHE IS AN ADULT PERSON WHO IS NOT IN A SPOUSAL RELATIONSHIP,
2 OR ADULT SPOUSES TOGETHER, OR ANY TWO ADULTS WHO ARE INTIMATE PARTNERS
3 TOGETHER, EXCEPT WHERE THE INTENDED PARENT AND HIS OR HER SPOUSE:
4 (I) ARE LIVING SEPARATE AND APART PURSUANT TO A DECREE OR JUDGMENT OF
5 SEPARATION OR PURSUANT TO A WRITTEN AGREEMENT OF SEPARATION SUBSCRIBED
6 BY THE PARTIES THERETO AND ACKNOWLEDGED OR PROVED IN THE FORM REQUIRED
7 TO ENTITLE A DEED TO BE RECORDED; OR
8 (II) HAVE BEEN LIVING SEPARATE AND APART FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS
9 PRIOR TO EXECUTION OF THE GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT, THEN THE SPOUSE OF THE
10 INTENDED PARENT IS NOT REQUIRED TO BE A PARTY TO THE GESTATIONAL AGREE-
11 MENT AND SHALL NOT HAVE PARENTAL RIGHTS OR OBLIGATIONS TO THE CHILD.
12 S 581-405. REQUIREMENTS OF GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT. (A) A GESTATIONAL
13 AGREEMENT SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE SATISFIED THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS
14 ARTICLE AND BE ENFORCEABLE IF IT MEETS THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS:
15 (1) IT SHALL BE IN A SIGNED RECORD VERIFIED BY THE INTENDED PARENTS,
16 THE GESTATIONAL CARRIER, AND HER SPOUSE, IF ANY; AND
17 (2) IT SHALL BE EXECUTED PRIOR TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF ANY MEDICAL
18 PROCEDURES IN FURTHERANCE OF THE GESTATIONAL CARRIER ARRANGEMENT OTHER
19 THAN MEDICAL EVALUATIONS NECESSARY TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF THE
20 PARTIES PURSUANT TO SECTION 581-404 OF THIS PART; AND
21 (3) IT SHALL BE EXECUTED BY A GESTATIONAL CARRIER MEETING THE ELIGI-
22 BILITY REQUIREMENTS OF SUBDIVISION (A) OF SECTION 581-404 OF THIS PART
23 AND BY THE GESTATIONAL CARRIER'S SPOUSE, IF ANY; AND
24 (4) IT SHALL BE EXECUTED BY INTENDED PARENTS MEETING THE ELIGIBILITY
25 REQUIREMENTS OF SUBDIVISION (B) OF SECTION 581-404 OF THIS PART; AND
26 (5) THE GESTATIONAL CARRIER AND THE INTENDED PARENTS SHALL HAVE BEEN
27 REPRESENTED BY SEPARATE, INDEPENDENT COUNSEL IN ALL MATTERS CONCERNING
28 THE GESTATIONAL CARRIER ARRANGEMENT AND THE GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT; AND
29 (6) IF THE GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT PROVIDES FOR THE PAYMENT OF COMPEN-
30 SATION TO THE GESTATIONAL CARRIER, THE COMPENSATION SHALL HAVE BEEN
31 PLACED IN ESCROW WITH AN INDEPENDENT ESCROW AGENT PRIOR TO THE GESTA-
32 TIONAL CARRIER'S COMMENCEMENT OF ANY MEDICAL PROCEDURE OTHER THAN
33 MEDICAL EVALUATIONS NECESSARY TO DETERMINE THE GESTATIONAL CARRIER'S
34 ELIGIBILITY; AND
35 (7) THE GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING TERMS:
36 (I) AS TO THE GESTATIONAL CARRIER AND HER SPOUSE, IF ANY:
37 (A) THE AGREEMENT OF THE GESTATIONAL CARRIER TO UNDERGO EMBRYO TRANS-
38 FER AND ATTEMPT TO CARRY AND GIVE BIRTH TO THE CHILD; AND
39 (B) THE AGREEMENT OF THE GESTATIONAL CARRIER AND HER SPOUSE, IF ANY,
40 TO SURRENDER CUSTODY OF ALL RESULTING CHILDREN TO THE INTENDED PARENTS
41 IMMEDIATELY UPON THE BIRTH; AND
42 (C) THE RIGHT OF THE GESTATIONAL CARRIER TO UTILIZE THE SERVICES OF A
43 HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER OF HER CHOOSING, AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE
44 INTENDED PARENTS, TO PROVIDE HER CARE DURING THE PREGNANCY; AND
45 (II) AS TO THE INTENDED PARENT OR PARENTS:
46 (A) THE AGREEMENT TO ACCEPT CUSTODY OF ALL RESULTING CHILDREN IMME-
47 DIATELY UPON BIRTH REGARDLESS OF NUMBER, GENDER, OR MENTAL OR PHYSICAL
48 CONDITION; AND
49 (B) THE AGREEMENT TO ASSUME SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE
50 CHILDREN IMMEDIATELY UPON THE CHILDREN'S BIRTH; AND
51 (C) THE AGREEMENT THAT THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE INTENDED
52 PARENT OR PARENTS UNDER THE GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT ARE NOT ASSIGNABLE.
53 S 581-406. TERMINATION OF GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT. (A) AFTER ISSUANCE
54 OF A JUDGMENT OF PARENTAGE PURSUANT TO SECTION 581-203 OF THIS ARTICLE,
55 BUT BEFORE THE GESTATIONAL CARRIER BECOMES PREGNANT BY MEANS OF ASSISTED
56 REPRODUCTION, THE GESTATIONAL CARRIER, HER SPOUSE, IF ANY, OR EITHER OF
A. 6701 10
1 THE INTENDED PARENTS MAY TERMINATE THE GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT BY GIVING
2 NOTICE OF TERMINATION IN A RECORD TO ALL OTHER PARTIES AND ANY LIABILITY
3 RESULTING THEREFROM WILL BE DETERMINED PURSUANT TO SECTION 581-408 OF
4 THIS PART.
5 (B) AN INDIVIDUAL WHO TERMINATES A GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT UNDER THIS
6 SECTION SHALL FILE NOTICE OF THE TERMINATION WITH THE COURT. ON RECEIPT
7 OF THE NOTICE, THE COURT SHALL VACATE THE JUDGMENT OF PARENTAGE ISSUED
8 UNDER THIS ARTICLE.
9 S 581-407. GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT: EFFECT OF SUBSEQUENT SPOUSAL
10 RELATIONSHIP. AFTER THE EXECUTION OF A GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT UNDER THIS
11 ARTICLE, THE SUBSEQUENT SPOUSAL RELATIONSHIP OF THE GESTATIONAL CARRIER
12 DOES NOT AFFECT THE VALIDITY OF A GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT, HER SPOUSE'S
13 CONSENT TO THE AGREEMENT SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED, AND HER SPOUSE SHALL NOT
14 BE THE PRESUMED PARENT OF THE RESULTING CHILD.
15 S 581-408. FAILURE TO OBTAIN A JUDGMENT OF PARENTAGE. WHERE THE
16 INTENDED PARENTS OR THE GESTATIONAL CARRIER FAIL TO OBTAIN A JUDGMENT OF
17 PARENTAGE PURSUANT TO SECTION 581-203 OF THIS ARTICLE, THE PARENTAGE OF
18 A CHILD BORN AS THE RESULT OF A GESTATIONAL CARRIER ARRANGEMENT WILL BE
19 DETERMINED BASED ON THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD TAKING INTO ACCOUNT
20 GENETICS AND THE INTENT OF THE PARTIES.
21 S 581-409. DISPUTE AS TO GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT. (A) ANY DISPUTE WHICH
22 IS RELATED TO A GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT OTHER THAN DISPUTES AS TO PARENT-
23 AGE SHALL BE RESOLVED BY THE SUPREME COURT, WHICH SHALL DETERMINE THE
24 RESPECTIVE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES. IF A GESTATIONAL
25 AGREEMENT DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS ARTICLE, THE AGREEMENT
26 IS NOT ENFORCEABLE.
27 (B) EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED IN THE GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT, THE
28 INTENDED PARENT OR PARENTS AND GESTATIONAL CARRIER SHALL BE ENTITLED TO
29 ALL REMEDIES AVAILABLE AT LAW OR EQUITY IN ANY DISPUTE RELATED TO THE
30 GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT.
31 (C) THERE SHALL BE NO SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE REMEDY AVAILABLE FOR A
32 BREACH BY THE GESTATIONAL CARRIER OF A GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT TERM THAT
33 REQUIRES HER TO BE IMPREGNATED.
34 S 581-410. INSPECTION OF RECORDS. THE PROCEEDINGS, RECORDS, AND IDEN-
35 TITIES OF THE INDIVIDUAL PARTIES TO A GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT UNDER THIS
36 ARTICLE SHALL BE SEALED EXCEPT UPON THE PETITION OF THE PARTIES TO THE
37 GESTATIONAL AGREEMENT OR THE CHILD BORN AS A RESULT OF THE GESTATIONAL
38 CARRIER ARRANGEMENT.
39 S 581-411. EXCLUSIVE, CONTINUING JURISDICTION. SUBJECT TO THE JURIS-
40 DICTIONAL STANDARDS OF SECTION SEVENTY-SIX OF THE DOMESTIC RELATIONS
41 LAW, THE COURT CONDUCTING A PROCEEDING UNDER THIS ARTICLE HAS EXCLUSIVE,
42 CONTINUING JURISDICTION OF ALL MATTERS ARISING OUT OF THE GESTATIONAL
43 AGREEMENT UNTIL A CHILD BORN TO THE GESTATIONAL CARRIER DURING THE PERI-
44 OD GOVERNED BY THE AGREEMENT ATTAINS THE AGE OF ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS.
45 PART 5
46 PAYMENT TO DONORS AND GESTATIONAL CARRIERS
47 SECTION 581-501. REIMBURSEMENT.
48 581-502. COMPENSATION.
49 S 581-501. REIMBURSEMENT. (A) A DONOR WHO HAS ENTERED INTO A VALID
50 AGREEMENT TO BE A DONOR, MAY RECEIVE REIMBURSEMENT FROM AN INTENDED
51 PARENT OR PARENTS FOR ECONOMIC LOSSES INCURRED IN CONNECTION WITH THE
52 DONATION WHICH RESULT FROM THE RETRIEVAL OR STORAGE OF GAMETES OR EMBR-
53 YOS.
A. 6701 11
1 (B) PREMIUMS PAID FOR INSURANCE AGAINST ECONOMIC LOSSES DIRECTLY
2 RESULTING FROM THE RETRIEVAL OR STORAGE OF GAMETES OR EMBRYOS FOR
3 DONATION MAY BE REIMBURSED.
4 S 581-502. COMPENSATION. (A) COMPENSATION MAY BE PAID TO A DONOR OR
5 GESTATIONAL CARRIER BASED ON SERVICES RENDERED, EXPENSES THAT HAVE BEEN
6 OR WILL BE INCURRED, TIME, AND INCONVENIENCE. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES MAY
7 COMPENSATION BE PAID TO PURCHASE GAMETES OR EMBRYOS OR TO PAY FOR THE
8 RELINQUISHMENT OF A PARENTAL INTEREST IN A CHILD.
9 (B) THE COMPENSATION, IF ANY, PAID TO A DONOR OR GESTATIONAL CARRIER
10 MUST BE REASONABLE AND NEGOTIATED IN GOOD FAITH BETWEEN THE PARTIES, AND
11 SAID PAYMENTS TO A GESTATIONAL CARRIER SHALL NOT EXCEED THE DURATION OF
12 THE PREGNANCY AND RECUPERATIVE PERIOD OF UP TO EIGHT WEEKS AFTER THE
13 BIRTH OF THE CHILD.
14 (C) COMPENSATION MAY NOT BE CONDITIONED UPON THE PURPORTED QUALITY OR
15 GENOME-RELATED TRAITS OF THE GAMETES OR EMBRYOS.
16 (D) COMPENSATION MAY NOT BE CONDITIONED ON ACTUAL GENOTYPIC OR PHENO-
17 TYPIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DONOR OR OF THE CHILD.
18 PART 6
19 FORMATION OF LEGAL PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP AFTER BIRTH OF CHILD
20 SECTION 581-601. DETERMINATION OF PARENTHOOD.
21 S 581-601. DETERMINATION OF PARENTHOOD. (A) A PERSON SEEKING TO QUAL-
22 IFY FOR A JUDGMENT OF PARENTAGE UNDER THIS PART IS REFERRED TO HEREIN AS
23 "PETITIONER".
24 (B) THE COURT SHALL ISSUE A JUDGMENT OF PARENTAGE TO A PETITIONER WHO
25 DEMONSTRATES THE FOLLOWING BY CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE:
26 (1) THE PARENT OR PARENTS OF A CHILD CONSENTED TO THE PETITIONER'S
27 FORMATION OF A PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CHILD, SUCH CONSENT TO
28 BE EXPRESSED IN WRITTEN FORM, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY OF THE
29 FOLLOWING EXAMPLES: A SIGNED LETTER AGREEMENT, AN EXECUTED CONTRACT, A
30 BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT, A RELIGIOUS CEREMONY DOCUMENT, OR A SCHOOL OR
31 MEDICAL RECORD; AND
32 (2) PETITIONER RESIDED IN THE SAME HOUSEHOLD WITH THE CHILD FOR A
33 LENGTH OF TIME SUFFICIENT, GIVEN THE AGE OF THE CHILD, TO HAVE ESTAB-
34 LISHED WITH THE CHILD A BONDED, DEPENDENT RELATIONSHIP PARENTAL IN
35 NATURE; AND
36 (3) PETITIONER PERFORMED PARENTAL FUNCTIONS FOR THE CHILD TO A SIGNIF-
37 ICANT DEGREE; AND
38 (4) PETITIONER FORMED A PARENT-CHILD BOND WITH THE CHILD.
39 (C) PETITIONER UNDER THIS PART SHALL NOT INCLUDE A GRANDPARENT OF SUCH
40 MINOR CHILD, A PERSON WHOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CHILD IS BASED ON
41 PAYMENT BY THE PARENT, OR A PERSON WHO HAS NOT AT ANY TIME BEEN AN INTI-
42 MATE PARTNER WITH A PARENT OF THE CHILD.
43 (D) PETITIONER QUALIFYING AS A PARENT UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL BE
44 DEEMED TO BE THE LEGAL PARENT OF SUCH CHILD FOR ALL PURPOSES.
45 (E) A JUDGMENT OF PARENTAGE SHALL BE ISSUED PURSUANT TO SECTION
46 581-204 OF THIS ARTICLE CONFIRMING ESTABLISHMENT OF A PARENT-CHILD
47 RELATIONSHIP AS PROVIDED IN THIS PART.
48 PART 7
49 MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
50 SECTION 581-701. REMEDIAL.
51 581-702. SEVERABILITY.
52 581-703. PARENT UNDER SECTION SEVENTY OF THE DOMESTIC RELATIONS
53 LAW.
A. 6701 12
1 S 581-701. REMEDIAL. THIS LEGISLATION IS HEREBY DECLARED TO BE A
2 REMEDIAL STATUTE AND IS TO BE CONSTRUED LIBERALLY TO SECURE THE BENEFI-
3 CIAL INTERESTS AND PURPOSES THEREOF FOR THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD.
4 S 581-702. SEVERABILITY. THE INVALIDATION OF ANY PART OF THIS LEGIS-
5 LATION BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION SHALL NOT RESULT IN THE
6 INVALIDATION OF ANY OTHER PART.
7 S 581-703. PARENT UNDER SECTION SEVENTY OF THE DOMESTIC RELATIONS LAW.
8 THE TERM "PARENT" IN SECTION SEVENTY OF THE DOMESTIC RELATIONS LAW SHALL
9 INCLUDE A PERSON ESTABLISHED TO BE A PARENT UNDER THIS ARTICLE OR ANY
10 OTHER RELEVANT LAW.
11 S 2. Section 73 of the domestic relations law is REPEALED.
12 S 3. Article 8 of the domestic relations law is REPEALED.
13 S 4. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
14 it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
15 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
16 tation of this act on its effective date is authorized to be made on or
17 before such date.
</pre>
jakiam83http://www.blogger.com/profile/00535452453931609688noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2264883609375228715.post-78007517053502852122014-01-26T21:11:00.003-05:002014-01-26T21:11:51.542-05:00Letter to Senator Pilcher-Cook
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
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</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Dear Senator Pilcher-Cook ,
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I am writing to you today to thank you
for the bill that you are introducing which would ban surrogacy in
Kansas. I am a product of a traditional surrogacy, and support all
bans on surrogacy.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Surrogacy is not in the best interest
for children. My reasons for believing this are as follows.</div>
<ul>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Surrogacy is a great
way to circumnavigate the home studies which are done for children
of adoption. Meaning that there is no guarantee that the children
being born are being ensured a safe home. </span>
</div>
<ul>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I myself lived in an abusive
household, and was ultimately removed from the intended parents
care just after turning 17. My reality, is that I don't have a
relationship with my birth father, or adoptive mother, and they
don't have a child. Surrogacy isn't a magic answer for creating
families.
</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Peter Troung and Mark Newton a
California couple who hired a Russian surrogate for $8,000.00 to
start their family. Days after he was born they started sexually
abusing, created distributed child pornography, traveled the world
prostituting their son to a pedophile network. What Newton had to
say when he and his partner were sentenced to 40 years in prison
"being a father was an honor and a privilege that amounted to
the best six years of my life". (This couple desperately
<i><b>wanted</b></i> their child.)
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The majority of all
surrogacy is done with either donor egg or sperm. This means when we
create children via this technology we are intentionally creating
them to separate them from one or both biological parents. </span>There
has been much evidence within the world of psychology that shows the
detrimental effects of separating a child from their biological
parents.</div>
<ul>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
A letter to mental health
journal by E Wellisch "...knowledge of and definite
relationship to his genealogy is necessary for a child to build up
his complete body image and world picture. It's an inalienable and
entitled right of every person. There's an urge a call in everybody
to follow and fulfill the tradition of the family, race, religion
and community into which he was born" reason behind the letter
was deprivation of this could develop into a stunting of emotional
development.
</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
There is a primal wound, for both
the child and the mother when the child is separated from their
birth mother. Nancy Verrier wrote a book titled Primal Wound. (Here
is a link to a blog by an adoptee who read the book, and her
thoughts about it, and how the primal wound resonates with her
<a href="http://adoptionvoicesmagazine.com/adoptee-view/adoptee-view-what-can-a-tiny-baby-know/#.UuW2N7ROnDc">http://adoptionvoicesmagazine.com/adoptee-view/adoptee-view-what-can-a-tiny-baby-know/#.UuW2N7ROnDc</a>
)</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The children being
born via surrogacy are not entitled to know the truth about their
conception. </span>
</div>
<ul>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Many egg donor agencies don't
keep donor information on file, so if the egg donor were to develop
cancer years after donating her eggs she would not be able to let
her offspring know that they need to be aware and have early
screening done. Picture every time that you've been to the doctor's
office and have had to fill out family medical history. Then,
imagine that you get salt rubbed in the would every time because
you don't have a right to this information. That the people who are
protected in donor conception are only the adults involved and not
the people created this way.</div>
</li>
<li>This is an excerpt about twin siblings from a traditional
adoption who not knowing they were sibling married. The entire
article can be found at
<a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/twin-brother-sister-marry-article-1.343118">http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/twin-brother-sister-marry-article-1.343118</a>
Chris Atkins of the organization Adults Affected by Adoption said
that although such cases are unusual, the attraction between the
twins is not surprising. "There is a phenomenon called genetic
sexual attraction," Atkins said, noting that people tend to be
attracted to people with similar likes and dislikes, sense of humor
and even looks. "That happens with people who are not
related," she said. "If siblings meet who are not aware
they are biologically related, to all intents and purposes they're
going to think, 'This is my ideal match.' " The extraordinary
case also could reignite a long-simmering debate in Britain over
the right of adopted children to know the identity of their
biological parents, the Evening Standard reported. "There will
be more causes like this if children are not given access to the
truth," said Prof. Lord David Alton, who uncovered the twins'
case last month. (We as a society need to consider issues like
these. Within surrogacy it is completely possible that you're using
donor sperm. Within the U.S. There are no restrictions on sperm
donors and the number of times that they can donate. What we're
starting to see now are donor children who have siblings in the
amount of triple digits.
(<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/06/health/06donor.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0">http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/06/health/06donor.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0</a>
Sperm donor with 150 children)
(<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2130814/The-man-fathered-1-000-children-Theyre-middle-class-living-Britain--idea-extraordinary-story-surrounding-birth.html">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2130814/The-man-fathered-1-000-children-Theyre-middle-class-living-Britain--idea-extraordinary-story-surrounding-birth.html</a>
fathered 1,000 children most who don't know their background)
(<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/23/kirk-maxey-father-of-400_n_401715.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/23/kirk-maxey-father-of-400_n_401715.html</a>
Sperm donor who fathered 400 children, demanding regulation on
sperm banks)
<br />
</li>
<li>As someone who is active within the donor conceived
community, a common thread that I see between my peers is that
they're all curious about where they came from. I see so many
people asking which donor registry communities they should go to in
order to have the best odds of finding either their siblings or
their biological parent.
<br />
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">This industry turns children into commodities.
<span style="font-size: small;">No one is entitled to have a child, children are
blessings. </span></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="font-size: small;">Quote from the
"Son of a Surrogate" Blog<br /><br />It looks to me like I
was bought and sold. You can dress it up with as many pretty words
as you want. You can wrap it up in a silk freaking scarf. You can
pretend these are not your children. You can say it is a gift or
you donated your egg to the IM. But the fact is that someone has
contracted you to make a child, give up your parental rights and
hand over your flesh and blood child. I dont care if you think I am
not your child, what about what I think! Maybe I know I am your
child.When you exchange something for money it is called a
commodity.</span></span><span style="font-size: small;">
<a href="http://sonofasurrogate.tripod.com/">http://sonofasurrogate.tripod.com/</a></span></span><br />
</li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;">The basis of creating a creating
children in surrogacy are contracts, lawyers and </span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>money</b></span><span style="font-size: small;">.
That's not in the best interest of children. </span></span>
<br />
</li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;">Due to the fact that the process
to buy the child is costly, too many embryos often get transferred.
This increases the instances of pregnancy with multiples. At the
end of the day this means that we're seeing an increase in fetal
reductions, because obviously it's high risk to the mothers to
carry multiples. </span></span>
<br />
</li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Designer babies? want just boys? you do this by
"creating a bunch of embryos and search for and destroy the
female embryos" (Below are excerpts from an interview which is
shared by The Center for Bioethics and Culture</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">LAHL: Who were your typical egg donors in the
early days?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">KAY: Most of our donors were married moms, who
had already had their children and wanted to make some extra
money. Most of the donors had good intentions in wanting to help
someone have a baby, but in all the years I did this work, I never
met anyone who wanted to do it for free.</span><br />
</li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">LAHL: What changes did you see happening with
the patients (recipients) over the years?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">KAY: I saw a shift in the fertility patients who
had become more demanding, wanting ‘designer babies’. I
recall calling one woman who was using a surrogate and an egg
donor to have a child. She was very picky about the women she
wanted to use. One day, I was working on a Saturday, and I thought
I’d found the perfect donor for her, so I called her. She said
she was busy and asked if she could call me back in about 30
minutes. I explained that I wasn’t going to be available then
so she said she’d get off the treadmill now so we could talk. I
thought it was strange that she was so picky, but didn’t want to
stop her exercise to discuss the egg donor I found for her. This
was a child she so desperately wanted, but her exercise was her
priority?</span><br />
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: small;">Surrogacy is also not in the best interest of women.
The reason that we are not allowed to donate our organs (liver,
kidney etc..) is that we understand that a huge sum of money negates
the ability to make an informed decision. The money is motivating to
ignore our mental and physical health, when it is a sum large enough
to help improve our quality of life. But, surrogacy and egg donation
are physically dangerous to the woman. We have no long term studies
to show the effects of the massive amounts of hormones and such that
a surrogate or egg donor need to take in order to ready themselves
for a gestational surrogacy which allows clinics to tell these women
that there is minimal risk. It is not because there aren't women who
haven't lost their lives, reproductive ability that we can say that.
It's because as an industry that's concerned with the bottom line of
profit it doesn't behoove them to follow up. </span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Again, I thank you sincerely for proposing a ban on
surrogacy. As a product of surrogacy I fully believe that this is in
the best interest of children, women and families. </span>
<br />
jakiam83http://www.blogger.com/profile/00535452453931609688noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2264883609375228715.post-38481520580187517122014-01-23T15:49:00.003-05:002014-01-23T15:49:48.128-05:00Primal Wound - Written by Nancy VerrierI believe in one of my earlier posts I referenced "Primal Wound" by Nancy Verrier as a great read for someone who has had difficulty with being a product of 3rd party donor conception. I was reading the section she has for adoptees (Information for Adoptees) which can be found here: <a href="http://nancyverrier.com/information-for-adoptees/" target="_blank">http://nancyverrier.com/information-for-adoptees/</a> Reading the primal wound gave me the sense that there was someone out there who understood the pain, and disconnected feeling that I've been through, relatively unacknowledged until recently. I wanted to share what she had to say on her page here:<br />
<br />
"<br />
<div class="post-20 page type-page status-publish hentry" id="post-20">
<h1>
Information for Adoptees</h1>
<div class="entry">
Because you have lived with separation trauma your entire lives, many of
you haven’t realized that what you have been feeling and experiencing
is not what everyone experiences. For many of you, reading <strong><em>The Primal Wound</em></strong>
was your first clue that your particular feelings and behaviors may
have been caused by your experience of relinquishment and adoption.
Relinquishment means separation and loss, and adoption means living
without genetic markers or being reflected back. Both are traumas, one
acute and one chronic, and both are going to affect your way of being in
the world. Although these feelings, attitudes, and behaviors are normal
for having had the experience of separation and adoption, yet they may
not be serving you well in your lives today.<br />
On the other hand, there are some of you who resist acknowledging the
effects of early trauma, because you haven’t known anything else. For
the doubters and naysayers, there is an excellent book by Daniel Siegel
you might want to read titled <strong><em>The Developing Mind</em></strong>,
which includes the neurobiological reasons that early trauma affects
our behavior, emotional responses, and neurological connections. It is
difficult to know that one has suffered a trauma, when that trauma
happened so early in one’s life.<br />
When someone suffers a trauma at age 30, she can go back to age 25 or 27
as a reference point for her feelings, attitudes and behaviors. She
knows that she wasn’t so fearful, so mistrustful, so needing to be in
control, so sensitive to rejection, so depressed and anxious. She knew
who she was and it isn’t who she appears to be now. Birth mothers, who
experience trauma at the time of relinquishment, often get stuck
emotionally at the age at which they gave birth.<br />
You as adoptees have no reference point. For most of you, your trauma
occurred right after birth, so there is no “before trauma” self. You
suffered a loss that you can’t consciously remember and which no one
else is acknowledging, but which has a tremendous impact on your sense
of Self and others, your emotional responses, your behavior, and your
world view. Your brain synapses connected according to your perception
of your environment which seemed unsafe, unfamiliar, and in need of
constant vigilance. This need for vigilance may have filled you with
anxiety. Some of you became compliant and tried to be perfect, while
others of you acted out and tested everyone who was important to you.<br />
As children, these behaviors are to be understood and worked with
patiently and lovingly (that is if adoptive parents are given a clue
that their children have experienced trauma). But as adults, it is up to
you to begin to realize the impact your actions have on others and to
take responsibility for those actions. This is not always easy, because
many of you don’t even realize that you have an impact. (<em>Mom leaves, baby cries, mom doesn’t come back = I have no impact, no effect, no importance.</em>)
It is the baby mind that believes you have no impact. For the “adult
truth” you have to check with others. Ask your husband/wife/mother/
partner: “Did it hurt you when I did…?” Then you can modify your
behavior to reflect their answer. You have to begin to notice and
acknowledge the effect you are having on others and then take
responsibility for it. Take it from me: <em>You do have an impact! You do matter</em>!<br />
Separation from mother is the ultimate loss. Although hidden from your
conscious memory, that loss affects much of how you act in
relationships. To be in a mature relationship, you must learn how your
beliefs differ from reality. Then you can begin to change harmful
behaviors. You may be acting from your trauma and not from your true
self at all. Allow others to help you distinguish between the two, and
learn to act from your true self, rather than from your traumatized
self.<br />
I’ve met thousands of adoptees since the publication of my first book in
1993, and each and every one has had a unique and wonderful
personality. Yet there are many similarities in their behavior patterns,
some compliant, some defiant, but behavior patterns which emanated from
early trauma. As adults, it is time for you to gain control in your
life. By <em>you</em> I mean <em>the mature adult you, not the traumatized child you</em>.
(How many of you would consciously put a three-year-old in charge of
your life? Well, you may have unconsciously done just that!) You have to
begin to distinguish between your child and adult selves, and act from
your adult self. You owe it to yourselves and those who love you.<br />
Remember: You deserve to be treated with love, respect, and dignity, and
you deserve to treat others with love, respect, and dignity."<br />
<br />
From my communication with fellow donor conceived we as a community don't tend to speak up about our feelings because we don't want to hurt our social families. However, it's still important to acknowledge what losses we have been through. For anyone out there trying to come to terms with this subject I highly recommend Nancy Verrier's book.<br />
<br />
You should be able to find it at most book stores, or you can go to amazon. Here is the link: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0963648004/primalwoundco-20" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0963648004/primalwoundco-20</a> <br />
</div>
</div>
jakiam83http://www.blogger.com/profile/00535452453931609688noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2264883609375228715.post-84757205058262352792014-01-17T01:35:00.002-05:002014-01-17T01:35:48.620-05:00The Emperor’s New Kids: A First Hand Account of Third Party Reproduction<br />
<div class="entry-content">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/83639090" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe>
"What could be the problem in letting eager caretakers use technology to create the children they so desperately want? In this illuminating talk, Alana Newman uses her first person experience as the daughter of an anonymous sperm donor, as well as her years of experience as a fertility industry watch dog to speak on why there is an infertility epidemic, why we should be worried about the use of profiteering from third party reproduction, and why we should reconsider the meaning of “wanted” child." from <a href="http://www.loveandfidelity.org/resources/the-emperors-new-kids-a-first-hand-account-of-third-party-reproduction/" target="_blank">http://www.loveandfidelity.org/resources/the-emperors-new-kids-a-first-hand-account-of-third-party-reproduction/</a><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Points that struck me<br />
- "because this is a buisness now, anybody who has the money can have a kid because donor conception is really a euphemism for buying and selling kids"<br />
- designer babies.. want just boys? you do this by "creating a bunch of embryos and search for and destroy the female embryos"<br />
- "the only thing they know about their genetic mother and their birth mother, is that she accepted money in order to abandon them"<br />
- " so we use terms like <b><i>donation</i></b>, but their lies what the donors are doing is they're accepting money to promise they'll have nothing to do with the child"<br />
- Consider the wanted child. (As a product of donor conception myself, this "wanted" word just rubs salt in the wound.) Below pictures are Peter Troung and Mark Newton a California couple who hired a Russian surrogate for $8,000.00 to start their family. Days after he was born they started sexually abusing, created distributed child pornography, traveled the world prostituting their son to a pedophile network. What Newton had to say when he and his partner were sentenced to 40 years in prison "being a father was an honor and a privilege that amounted to the best six years of my life". (This couple desperately <i><b>wanted</b></i> their child.) <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-xa5tzijYXwBN9omEo2zGH7r3JFF0o61GuG8Mnc2VPIr6p6shcrEEOmaQ0UZFmC9YNa0AQ1RliqU3M6vZN8rFBa5llOj9T3nusUYQnXR5eej51D6rYRo1i51-ukzx9_Ac579XyshF06D/s1600/PeterTruongMarkNewton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-xa5tzijYXwBN9omEo2zGH7r3JFF0o61GuG8Mnc2VPIr6p6shcrEEOmaQ0UZFmC9YNa0AQ1RliqU3M6vZN8rFBa5llOj9T3nusUYQnXR5eej51D6rYRo1i51-ukzx9_Ac579XyshF06D/s1600/PeterTruongMarkNewton.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
- (In a traditional adoption before you can adopt you go through home inspections and thorough
screening to ensure that you're able to provide a good home for the
child you're adopting. With 3rd party donor conception you get to just
buy your baby and bring it home. It's extremely rare that anyone who
goes to by sperm, eggs, or hire a surrogate goes through any rigorous
screening. Alana Newman has previously interviewed a person who was at one point head of one of the largest egg banks, and she admitted that out of the thousands of prospective parents she saw she had only ever turned one away.)<br />
- The FDA has NOT approved the use of Lupron for fertility use. There are strong associations with cancers for the horomones that the surrogates and egg donors are taking. (Due to the fact that there have been no long term studies on this prospective donors and surrogates aren't informed when making their decision. To learn more about this There is a documentary called "Eggsploitation" that goes into more detail to see some trailers for this documentary or to order to view go to <a href="http://www.eggsploitation.com/" target="_blank">http://www.eggsploitation.com/</a>)<br />
- What differentiates human trafficking from 3rd party donor conception is simply a case of when the paperwork is signed. If all contracts are signed prior to the child being conceived. Then it's ok. If the contracts are signed during the pregnancy that by law is considered baby selling. Highlighted by an attorney who used to be a surrogacy attorney <span class="st"><span class="f"> </span>Theresa Erickson. To learn more about this you can go to <a href="http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Theresa-Erickson-Surrogacy-Abuse-Selling-Babies-140942313.html" target="_blank">http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Theresa-Erickson-Surrogacy-Abuse-Selling-Babies-140942313.html </a></span><br />
<span class="st">*** As a product of surrogacy to me it doesn't matter when the paperwork was signed whether I was in the womb yet or not. Consider that in a traditional adoption the mother can sign the agreements while pregnant and have a small bit of time to change her mind after the child is born. ** When you buy the egg or the sperm you're not purchasing it for that! You're purchasing the child. Human beings Should Not be for sale</span><br />
<span class="st">- "What happens when children become commodities? We see identity loss, disenfranchised grief"</span><br />
<span class="st">- The idea of we need to know where we come from (why is ancestry so important to us?)</span><br />
<span class="st">- A letter to mental health journal by E Wellisch "...knowledge of and definite relationship to his genealogy is necessary for a child to build up his complete body image and world picture. It's an inalienable and entitled right of every person. There's an urge a call in everybody to follow and fulfill the tradition of the family, race, religion and community into which he was born" reason behind the letter was deprivation of this could develop into a stunting of emotional development. </span><br />
<span class="st">- If it's ok to sell your genetic material why isn't it ok to sell your organs? In organ donation it is believed if there were monetary compensation that people would be influenced to risk their health. Egg donation?? Surrogacy?? There is a risk to health there!!</span><br />
<span class="st">- Important to know your medical! Many egg donor agencies don't keep long term records if there is something the donor's child should know she has no way of letting them know later down the road.</span><br />
<span class="st">- </span>jakiam83http://www.blogger.com/profile/00535452453931609688noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2264883609375228715.post-75913441968195569492014-01-16T21:58:00.003-05:002014-01-16T21:58:44.816-05:00Alana Newman on Fertility Industry CorruptionAlana Newman recently went to a conference in Charleston, South Carolina, sponsored by the American
Association for Adoption and Reproductive Technologies Attorneys
(AAARTA). Here is her Youtube video summarizing her thoughts on what she heard.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/H5ppPsXSsFc" width="480"></iframe>
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She has also written an article on her experience at the AAARTA. Please follow the link to read the article.<br />
<a href="http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2014/01/11645/" target="_blank">http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2014/01/11645/</a>jakiam83http://www.blogger.com/profile/00535452453931609688noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2264883609375228715.post-57486371760738000022014-01-13T14:58:00.002-05:002014-01-13T14:58:55.580-05:00Documentary by The Center for Biothethics and Culture on Surrogacy<br />
<br />
<br />
The Center for Bioethics and Culture has released a new documentary about surrogacy.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/83865042" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe>
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Here are a couple of the reviews for this documentary<br />
<br />
Jennifer Lahl’s eye-opening interviews with surrogates, doctors,
psychologists, and advocates across the political spectrum explain why
surrogacy is either illegal or far more limited in other industrialized
countries. Two NOW officials weigh in on the commodification of the
financially strapped women who become surrogates and the widely ignored
increased risk of maternal death in gestational surrogacy. Surrogates
describe medical and emotional nightmares for themselves and the
children involved; one who was allowed to visit the child to whom she’d
given birth when the little girl was five months old describes finding
that the until then constantly collicky infant did nothing but sleep
peacefully on the surrogate’s chest the whole time she was there. Until
then, she says, “I at no point in time thought about how it would affect
her.” Perhaps most sobering, though, are the words of a young woman who
was the result of such an arrangement: “Most of the consideration is
for the adults” who can afford to effectively buy their children, she
says, exploiting both the women hired to bear them and the children
whose “foundation of existence is a contract, and money.”<br /> — <em><strong>Melinda Henneberger</strong>,</em> Washington Post<br />
<br />
<em>Breeders</em> takes a hard look at the often unacknowledged
bioethical complexities, and individual and societal risks, associated
with the global rise of commercial surrogacy. Its thoughtful analysis
and interviews with a range of surrogates, family building brokers, and
health professionals make important connections between those who
purchase assisted reproductive technology services, the poor women who
exchange their wombs for cash, and the impact third-party reproduction
has on children and families.<br /> — <em><strong>Miriam Zoll</strong>, author of</em> Cracked Open: Liberty, Fertility and the Pursuit of High-Tech Babies<br />
<br />
Those who may doubt the truth of the old adage that “the road to hell is
paved with good intentions” will have their doubts erased by this
remarkable film. It powerfully indicts an industry that promises the
infertile the joy of a baby but treats women as breeders and children as
products. What began with laudable intentions ushered in a form of
dehumanization. Jennifer Lahl has done the nation a great service by
drawing attention to it.<br /> — <em><strong>Robert P. George</strong>,
McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and Director of the James Madison
Program in American Ideals and Institutions, Princeton University</em><br />
<br />
“Breeders” may strike some as a harsh label for the women who go through
a pregnancy for another to whom they will give the babies (if) born.
But seeing this film exposes the very problematic aspects of this highly
commercialized — and seriously unregulated — global activity that need
to be understood to have a true picture of this bit of the “baby
business” and parenting. It should be required viewing for all of us,
not only those taking part in these exchanges.<br /> — <strong>Abby Lippman, PhD</strong>,
Professor Emerita McGill University; Research Associate, Simone de
Beauvoir Institute, Concordia University, and longtime feminist activist
with special interests in women’s health and women’s health policies.
She has one foot based in academia and the other, the foot she favors,
involves her in social justice and reproductive activism with community
groups in Montreal and beyond its borders.<br />
<br />
<br />
If you or anyone you know is considering using surrogacy to start your family this is a must watch. Currently the film is on sale for pre-order. Go to <a href="http://breeders.cbc-network.org/" target="_blank">http://breeders.cbc-network.org/</a> to get it. jakiam83http://www.blogger.com/profile/00535452453931609688noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2264883609375228715.post-85872189174417642152013-08-09T14:39:00.001-04:002013-08-09T14:39:31.002-04:00What are the rights of donor conceived persons? Newman, Buchalter, and Blankenhorn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/wqZUGs1aLO4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
Alana Newman and Ralph Buchalter join David Blankenhorn to explore the
intricate ethical and moral issues surrounding third party reproduction
and the anonymous practices of an industry often hidden from public
view. Along the way they explore the conflict between different
narratives of personal and family identity, and importance of knowing
and coming to terms with how our families come into being.jakiam83http://www.blogger.com/profile/00535452453931609688noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2264883609375228715.post-63037964672884895142013-08-09T14:37:00.002-04:002013-08-09T14:37:30.352-04:00Is it a Right to have be able to have childrenBy having sperm donation, egg donation and surrogacy available to those who can afford the services there is an argument forming by the Donor Conception industry that yes, it is a person's right to have children. When that view is taken the child's wants and needs are automatically placed as secondary to those of the parents.<br />
Recently as I've been voicing my opinion about Donor Conception I've been getting asked well what do you think about adoption, it's another scenario where there are large sums of money being exchanged for a family to acquire a child. To me there is a HUGE difference between the two. That lays with the intention. When it comes to adoption there is a NEED for the child who is already in the world to be in a home. Whereas when utilizing donor conception technologies we are meeting the perspective parents WANT. In both cases the child will be split up from the biological family, but in the world of donor conception the split from the entire biological family is<b> INTENTIONAL</b>.<br />
It should be a right to know where we come from and who our biological parents are. I more especially believe this when it comes to the donor conception world due to the fact that every adult involved is a willing participant. When you look at the states that do have any legislation towards surrogacy, no state has given the product being the created the right to know their origin. I believe that the intended parents a lot of time have fear that by allowing their child to have a relationship with a surrogate in particular what if the surrogate feels that the child is theirs and sues back for custody. (I do personally know of instances where women I know who have done traditionally surrogacies have regretted their decision and sued back for joint custody of their child.) Again to protect the intended parents I believe that's why there is nothing out their legislatively to abolish the anonymity of the donor conception.<br />
I recently read on a surrogacy board, a surrogate said that she at times wondered how her surrogate child would feel about the financial transaction, but then she stops herself by acknowledging that the child wouldn't be here without the financial transaction that took place. To me that proves the point the the child conceived through donor conception is a commodity up for sale. <i>How do we as a society determine at what point it is wrong for money to exchange hands for a child?</i> If a surrogacy arrangement is made during the gestation of the child and papers are signed then it is considered human trafficking (at least by California's laws). However, if those same papers in California are signed before the sperm and egg meet then it's ok. As a product of donor conception to me it's irrelevant as to when the paperwork got signed, that part of the process no effect on me compared to other aspects of how the surrogacy arrangement was handled. If a child is already in this world and a parent doesn't want them it's illegal for them to sell their child but I'm sure that someone who wants a child would be willing to pay. I believe that it is still selling a human being as a product when there is money that exchanges hands. In Canada they have abolished all forms of payment when it comes to sperm and egg donation, and only allow altruistic donations. By answering yes, that it should be a right for anyone to be a parent, we further turn the child into a commodity. <br />
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<br />jakiam83http://www.blogger.com/profile/00535452453931609688noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2264883609375228715.post-62011245155572705742013-08-01T16:02:00.000-04:002013-08-01T16:02:07.778-04:00 Article about surrogacy by Sister Renée Mirkes, OSF, PhD<a href="http://www.catholicworldreport.com/Item/2475/the_injustices_of_the_surrogacy_industry.aspx" target="_blank">http://www.catholicworldreport.com/Item/2475/the_injustices_of_the_surrogacy_industry.aspx</a><br />jakiam83http://www.blogger.com/profile/00535452453931609688noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2264883609375228715.post-79855944490168989302013-08-01T15:59:00.003-04:002013-08-01T15:59:45.702-04:00Article written by Leslie Fain<a href="http://www.catholicworldreport.com/Item/2471/pain_profit_and_thirdparty_conception.aspx#.Ufq4HVOcvGZ" target="_blank">http://www.catholicworldreport.com/Item/2471/pain_profit_and_thirdparty_conception.aspx#.Ufq4HVOcvGZ</a><br />jakiam83http://www.blogger.com/profile/00535452453931609688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2264883609375228715.post-64382454709923102612013-07-09T12:39:00.001-04:002013-07-09T12:42:10.641-04:00Study done in the UK highlighting the psychological dificulties for children of donor conception<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Surrogate-born children are more likely to suffer depression than those carried by their real mother</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">By
<a class="author" href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=&authornamef=Emma+Innes" rel="nofollow">Emma Innes</a></span></span><br />
<ul style="font-weight: bold;">
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Children struggle to cope with the idea that they were carried by a woman other than their mother</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But have less difficulty with the thought that they are not biologically related to the people bringing them up</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Children carried by a surrogate are more likely to display behavioural and emotional problems </span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Children born to a surrogate mother
have more emotional difficulties than those carried by their biological
mother, according to new research.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But
children have less problems coping with the idea that they were
conceived using a donor egg and sperm and are not related to their
parents.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The study
suggests that children find it more difficult to handle the idea that
they were carried by another woman than that they are not biologically
related to their parents.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For
the study, which was carried out by the Centre for Family Research at
the University of Cambridge, the researchers followed 30 families who
had used a surrogate, 31 that had used egg donation, 35 that had used
donor sperm, and 53 that had conceived naturally.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">They surveyed the mothers when their
children were three, seven and ten in an attempt to establish how well
adjusted the children were.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.today.com/health/new-study-tracks-emotional-health-surrogate-kids-6C10366818" rel="nofollow" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Today</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>reports
that the children conceived using donor eggs and sperm were as well
adjusted as those conceived naturally, but that children carried by a
woman other than their mother struggled more.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Professor
Susan Golombok who led the research explained to Today that ‘signs of
adjustment problems could be behaviour problems, such as aggressive or
antisocial behaviour, or emotional problems, such as anxiety or
depression’.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">She added: ‘Adolescence is a potentially difficult for those born through egg or sperm donation or surrogacy.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">‘We
hope to revisit the children next year when they are 14 years-old, as
issues to do with identity become important in adolescence. This is also
a time when relationships with parents can become more difficult.’</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The findings come a time when surrogacy is increasing rapidly.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">According to the American Society for
Reproductive Medicine, the number of babies conceived in the U.S. using
a donated egg increase by more than 30 per cent between 2004 and 2011.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In the same time period, the number of births involving a surrogate rose by 200 per cent from 530 to 1,179.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It
is not known how many births result from sperm donations but it is
thought there could be between 30,000 and 60,000 a year in the U.S.</span></span><br />
<br />
Read more: <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2344362/Surrogate-born-children-likely-suffer-depression-carried-real-mother.html#ixzz2YZCyUJmS" style="color: #003399;">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2344362/Surrogate-born-children-likely-suffer-depression-carried-real-mother.html#ixzz2YZCyUJmS</a>
<br />
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<br />
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3210890/<br />
<br />
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23176601<br />
<br />
As someone who is searching for studies done about surrogacy, this is the first one that I've seen. I'll be interested to see what information they find as the children of the surrogacies get older. It seems as though it would be prudent for the District of Columbia, as well as any state trying to pass legislation legalizing surrogacy that they should first be doing studies on the products of surrogacy already in the world. jakiam83http://www.blogger.com/profile/00535452453931609688noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2264883609375228715.post-85250366112703527402013-07-08T09:52:00.001-04:002013-07-08T09:52:25.200-04:00The common thread between all donor conceivedThis year I've slowly been getting in touch with more and more people who like me are donor conceived. Where I see some of the most emotion rolling through is in the desire to know their biological parent. <br />
<br />
I remember when I found my birth/biological mother, being asked several times by a person close to her what my motive was. What did I want from her. It strikes me that if I had been a product of a traditional adoption that it wouldn't even be a consideration, it would be understood why someone would want to know where they come from. I still feel so lucky that I did find my biological mom, and the whole family because in finding them I understand myself so much more clearly now. My heart goes out to my fellow donor conceived who have been looking and are still looking for their biological parents. <br />
<br />
For any couples who are looking at sperm donation, or surrogacy and you feel that if you have a child through these modern technologies, I urge you to watch the Anonymous Father's Day DVD. It will show you that even in cases where a child is told early and often, it does not bring complete peace. The child will still desire to know their roots. The only thing that may mitigate is the trust issue that will develop when a product of donor conception finds out that they were lied to their whole life, by the people they should have been able to trust the most. jakiam83http://www.blogger.com/profile/00535452453931609688noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2264883609375228715.post-42410383060989275102013-06-22T19:26:00.003-04:002013-06-22T19:26:53.857-04:00Excerpt from DC Hearing on the proposed 2013 Surrogacy Agreement<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ofUlyHRtO-A?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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This is just an excerpt from the hearing, for the full hearing please go to <a href="http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/granicus/" target="_blank">http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/granicus/</a><br />
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<br />jakiam83http://www.blogger.com/profile/00535452453931609688noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2264883609375228715.post-67326591739038922612013-06-22T16:23:00.001-04:002013-07-02T07:09:24.796-04:00You're here nowI've been encountering more, as I try to explain how products of 3rd party donor conception might feel about the way they were brought into the world, I really am amazed by how blithely the response is you're here, you wouldn't be here if it wasn't for that.<br />
When I hear that one statement, for me it demeans everything that I've gone through. Because for the people who say this, the conversation also ends here. They aren't interested in there being studies to see the effects on the products of surrogacy, the children of the surrogates. They aren't even interested in meeting in the middle and saying, yes perhaps we need to provide egg donors and surrogates, with their own legal counsel not paid for by the intended parents so they can have less biased legal advise. They aren't interested in setting up mandatory psychological testing for for intended parents, although if a child who is already in the world and needs a home, they would be required to go through this. They certainly don't come across as interested in looking at what happens when the mother child bond gets broken after delivery. I don't see them being interested that the children being created this way should have a right to know who their genetic and birth parents are. I don't see the research getting done in any of these areas. To me it seems that it wouldn't benefit them to do the research because then they would have to admit if they went through with these processes that they would be not considering the child's best interest.<br />
<br />
Another thought that I have, is there is a difference between having a life and a quality of life. If you look in the psychiatric world they have levels for survival... basic food and shelter, and then emotional needs would be at the next tier. If one must spend most of their life trying to fix the emotional needs that weren't met, is that really a quality of life? Is that a good reason to create life instead of taking care of the children who are Already here? jakiam83http://www.blogger.com/profile/00535452453931609688noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2264883609375228715.post-55756068092511572772013-06-20T20:50:00.001-04:002013-06-20T20:50:46.700-04:00Today's D.C. Councilman HearingToday I testified at D.C.'s hearing about the Bill 20-32 the Surrogacy Parenting Agreement Act of 2013. This was my first experience speaking out against surrogacy on this type of platform.<br />
<br />
I was sadly, not surprised by, but none the less disappointed by the fact that the councilmen on the Judiciary and Public Safety committee were not interested in hearing whether or not it was a good idea to pass a policy to allow gestational surrogacy in the district, rather they had their minds made up that this was going to be done. It seemed to me that they wanted to hear what tweeks would need to be made to this piece of legislation before it was passed.<br />
The reason that this isn't surprising is this type of legislation can benefit the people like Mr. Cantina who could benefit from this type of legislation. Mr. Cantina is a gay man, who I would imagine like the rest of us has a biological clock. Currently for gay couples it is a challenge to adopt through traditional adoptions. However, with the newer wave of assisted third party reproductive services. People like Mr. Cantina do not need to be invested in trying to reform the current adoption system which would enable gay couples to do traditional adoptions. Instead they can surge through and obtain their child through surrogacy. (Let me say, that I in no way think that being gay means you should not be a parent. I don't believe that one's sexual orientation has anything to do with they type of parent that one would be.) So if the people who are creating the legislation are writing the bills, what hope do we have that this issue can be looked at from an unbiased stance? It's natural when something resonates with a struggle that we ourselves have gone through or people in our community have gone through that we will have blinders on, and no longer be able to be objective.<br />
<br />
I was really surprised to hear a Doctor from a fertility clinic testify that there was no proven risk to the drugs used in the process of harvesting eggs. (Hello, the documentary Eggsploitation showcases women who lost their ability to have their own children, women who have developed cancer as well as women who have died from the process!!!) But I guess if people were really aware of the risks that surrogates and egg donors go through, it would hurt the financial bottom for this reproductive industry. I will agree that it's hard to track exactly how extensive any complications will be, because there have been ZERO studies to follow up on the effects of the processes for the women involved. In fact a lady who spoke on the Eggsploitation documentary said that after she developed cancer she contacted the egg bank that she had donated her eggs to in order to see if any potential children who may have been born from her eggs, would be able to be informed that they might need to undergo screening for cancers. She was informed that after the eggs were transfered all records were destroyed. (Great looking out for the children of donor conception!)<br />
<br />
Another huge thing that I was struck by, today we heard from attorneys, doctors, surrogates, parents who have had their children for surrogacies. They all spoke to needing this legislation to protect the intended parents to protect them from a surrogate who may change her mind. Secondly they did agree that the surrogates should have representation. (which typically is representation paid for by the intended parents.... because that wouldn't be biased representation at all.........) But not one of those people spoke towards the children being created through surrogacy. The folks who were testifying that this bill should not be passed, spoke towards the medical risks, the exploitation of the women involved and also towards the welfare of the children. <br />
<br />
As a product of surrogacy, I feel like the intended parents and the surrogates are willingly creating a life, there is no accident here so the children conceived through these technologies have zero reason to not know who their biological parents are. They should always have access to their real medical history. If the surrogate or the intended parents aren't comfortable with this they shouldn't be doing a surrogacy. Surrogacy by nature sets up products of surrogacy to go through adoption traumas so if all adults are being responsible and putting the child's needs first wouldn't they want to minimize this to the full extent possible?<br />
<br />
I was really surprised when the councilmen made a point of noting that the people who were speaking against the bill were not D.C. residents however, the people who were speaking positively about the bill, it was not highlighted when one of them was not a D.C. resident. <br />
<br />
Due to the fact that the councilmen's minds seemed to be made up already I'm not sure how effective the testimony was today, but I hope at the very least there will be more consideration towards the children conceived via gestation surrogacy. One can hope.<br />
<br />
<br />jakiam83http://www.blogger.com/profile/00535452453931609688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2264883609375228715.post-55944756728778767232013-06-19T19:41:00.001-04:002013-06-19T19:41:40.599-04:00Donated Generation: A Story to Help People Understand<a href="http://donatedgeneration.blogspot.com/2012/04/story-to-help-people-understand.html?spref=bl">Donated Generation: A Story to Help People Understand</a>: The following is a story that DC person Barry Stevens tells in the documentary Anonymous Father’s Day. It is actually one of his DC sibl...jakiam83http://www.blogger.com/profile/00535452453931609688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2264883609375228715.post-88811979846846905052013-06-19T19:35:00.000-04:002013-06-19T19:35:20.829-04:00Judiciary and Public Safety: Bill 20-32, the Surrogacy Parenting Agreement Act of 2013Tomorrow I will be on a panel with Jennifer Lahl, President of The Center for Bioethics and Culture, Kathleen Sloan National Organization for Women (NOW) Board of Directors. Our aim will be to show the committee why it is not a good idea to pass the BILL 20-32, THE “SURROGACY PARE<br />
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NTING AGREEMENT ACT OF 2013”. </div>
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This blog includes the testimony that I will be making at the hearing. </div>
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Thank you to the members of the DC council for letting me address you today on the Surrogacy <br />Parenting Act of 2013. <br /> </div>
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My name is Jessica Kern. I am a product of a traditional surrogacy. (This is where a surrogate is hired to both donate her egg and carry the child to term.) I am here today to urge you to not change DC’s current stance on surrogacy. <br />As a product of surrogacy I can tell you firsthand what we children of donor conception go through. <br />Children of surrogacy, just like children of a traditional adoption, deal with all the traumas that go along with adoption. We want to know where we come from. We want to know who our biological mothers are. We want to know who gave birth to us and what they are like. We are curious about their family and other siblings we may have. I spent the first 17 years of my life being lied to by my biological father and adopted mother. Only when I read in my medical records, did I discover I was a product of a traditional surrogacy. Imagine the trust issues that this creates when your family lies to you your whole life, about information that is your right to know. I am one of the fortunate children of donor conception because it only took me nine years to find my birth mom, however those of us who are conceived through surrogacy do not have the right to have this information. Often we are lied to, and never are even told our stories of origin. When we are conceived it comes across to me that only the adults involved have their interests looked after. The intended parents might be threatened that their child won’t view them as parents if they know who their biological parents are, or the surrogate possibly did the surrogacy for financial reasons and does not want to be tracked down. From where I sit this is a painful thing. When I was blessed to find my birth mom I subsequently developed relationships with my extended family. At 26, for the first time in my life, I saw where I got my sense of humor from, my physical traits etc. Even though I hadn’t grown up around these people, the genes from this side of my family are what is dominate in me. I finally made sense to myself in ways that I didn’t understand was possible. When we have children in this world who already need homes, why are we intentionally creating children to go through adoption traumas? I am one of the lucky ones who were able to heal some of my pain when I found my birth mother. However, I still deal with the other adoption issues of what makes me different in my biological mom’s eyes. How can she consider the children that she intended to have her children, and the children she had through surrogacy not equals. When you know that a huge part of the reason that you came into the world is due solely to a paycheck, and that after being paid you are disposable, given away and never thought of again, it impacts how you view yourself. <br />As a product of surrogacy, when I express this viewpoint to others, I am told, look how much your <br />parents wanted you, they planned and saved to have you. You should be grateful and thankful for them. But at the end of the day, the adults were looking out for themselves, and what they needed and wanted <br />The next point I would like to speak to is a psychological effect, called the “Cinderella Effect”. This is a real concern for me that I experienced personally. The “Cinderella Effect” describes the risk of abuse to children being raised by who aren’t biologically related to the child they are raising. The odds of being abused increase for the child. I experienced this first hand. Growing up in a household where I was biologically related to my father, but not to my adopted mother, I was physically abused until I was 13. I reported my adoptive mother to social services. The physical abuse for the most part stopped at that point, but the verbal abuse increased until my therapist removed me out of their home four years later. I would like to think, that yes my story is the exception to the rule and that the majority of third party conception births go smoothly. From where I’m sitting, sadly that’s not the case. I feel that there is a good reason for this though. Parents who go through surrogacy to start their family are not by law required to go through psychological testing like parents who are starting their families through adoption. I really wish that at the very least that when the doctors, lawyers made their contracts with intended families and surrogate moms, while they were nailing down the financial details, this psychological testing is required. That somewhere in the mix of the profit, I really wish that there would have been a thought to make sure the child being created was going to be going into a safe home. For myself, being born via surrogacy has left me feeling like I don’t have any immediate family. I choose not to have a relationship with my biological father and adopted mother because of the abuse. Whenever I’m around them it impacts my mental health negatively, so in order to protect myself I can’t be around them. Unfortunately my biological mother and I aren’t speaking now, and I’m afraid that since I’ve decided to speak out against surrogacy we may never have a relationship again. (But this is too important to not speak out about. We now have information that 30 years ago wasn’t available.) Out of the people who I consider to be immediate family I have one brother who will speak to me. From where I’m sitting, surrogacy is not the magic answer to creating families; more often it’s a source of cause for lifelong pain for everyone involved. I know I’ve really been hurt through this process, but I can see where my intended parents, birth mother, and I have all been hurt in our own ways. I strongly urge the Council to please consider the needs of the children born via surrogacy and uphold the previous law that penalized surrogacy. This is what’s in the best interest of children, and families. <br />Thank you </div>
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jakiam83http://www.blogger.com/profile/00535452453931609688noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2264883609375228715.post-84235813257522816882013-01-15T18:25:00.004-05:002013-01-15T18:25:57.296-05:00My letter to David Catania's office today<div class="_38 direction_ltr">
<span style="color: #999999;">I reached out today to David Catania's office, the D.C. official who is working on passing surrogacy legislation in the district, I thought I'd share the letter </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #999999;">So I called David
Catania's office today and found out that Keri Nash the legislative
counsel is the person who's been doing the work on the bill. I sent this
e-mail to both she and David Catania. </span><br />
<br />
Hello Keri, <br />
We just spoke on the phone, I'm a product of a traditional surrogacy. I am opposed to this bill for different reasons. <br />First
when I read the bill, I don't see where there will be any requirements
for psychological testing on the intended parents. If something like
that is left up to the agencies, they are not motivated to do a thorough
job because, if they don't sell the product (child) they don't make
their money. <br />Secondly, I have real issue that we're creating
children to intentionally separate them from a biological parent. When
this is done the child will go through some of the same identity/
emotional issues as children of regular adoption. <br />Third, there is a
psychological concept called "The Cinderella Effect" Where it's proven
that children raised not by biological parents are at an increased risk
for abuse. The child will not be related to at least one of the intended
parents. <br />Fourth, This bill is not saying it's o.k. just to do
compassionate surrogacies (surrogacies where the surrogate has expenses
covered but does not gain financially). As a product of surrogacy I am
firmly against turning babies into a product. <br />
If you would like some resources where children of surrogacy have blogged how they feel here are some sources:<br /><a href="http://sonofasurrogate.tripod.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://sonofasurrogate.tripod.com/</a><br />
my blog is:<br /><a href="http://theothersideofsurrogacy.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://theothersideofsurrogacy.blogspot.com/</a><br />
Also there is a non-profit organization called <br />The
Center for Bioethics and Culture Network. The founder (Jennifer Lahl)
of this non-profit has done a lot of research into surrogacy issues as
she's currently filming a documentary about it. She would be a great
resource to turn to. The non-profit's website is:<br />
<a href="http://www.cbc-network.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.cbc-network.org/</a><br />
Please feel free to call/ e-mail me with any questions. <br />
Jessica Kern<br /><br />
All staff have an e-mail on this page <a href="http://www.davidcatania.com/component/option,com_contact/catid,19/Itemid,47/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.davidcatania.com/component/option,com_contact/catid,19/Itemid,47/</a></div>
jakiam83http://www.blogger.com/profile/00535452453931609688noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2264883609375228715.post-6094485402143720012013-01-15T13:23:00.001-05:002013-01-15T15:46:12.357-05:00Bill getting introducded to D.C. to legalize surrogacy<span style="color: purple;"><b>For anyone interested in making some noise against this bill getting passed, please write a ltter to:</b></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Office of
Councilmember David A. Catania</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Council of the District of Columbia</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1350 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 404, Washington,
D.C. 20004</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Or at this link you can e-mail David A. Catania and his staff. I called the office and was told that Keri Nash is the one working on the bill. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.davidcatania.com/component/option,com_contact/catid,19/Itemid,47/" target="_blank">http://www.davidcatania.com/component/option,com_contact/catid,19/Itemid,47/</a> </span></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple;"><b>Here are the talking points for the bill getting introduced to D.C.</b></span><br />
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Office of
Councilmember David A. Catania</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Council of the District of Columbia</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1350 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 404, Washington,
D.C. 20004</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Introduction Talking Points – Surrogacy Parenting
Agreement Act of 2013</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Today, I am pleased to introduce the Surrogacy Parenting
Agreement Act of 2013.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the last 50
years, medical technology has dramatically altered who is able to have children
and when and how these children are conceived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As a result, surrogacy has become an important alternative for some
individuals choosing to start a family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The law in the District, however, has not kept pace with these advances
in medical technology.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, surrogacy
agreements are statutorily prohibited under DC law and punishable by a fine of
up to $10,000 or up to one year in jail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Surrogacy is seldom a decision lightly considered by
those on the journey to build a family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Often people come to surrogacy after trying and exhausting many other
options.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In some cases, medical issues
make it impossible or unsafe for the parent to carry a child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For infertile couples, gay couples, and
single individuals, surrogacy presents a life-changing option that helps make
the dream of parenthood a reality for those who otherwise unable to
conceive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This legislation retires the notion that surrogacy is a
punishable offense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, under this bill
District law would support the creation of families by legalizing properly
executed surrogacy agreements rather than penalizing their use by eliminating significant
obstacles for those trying to expand their family through surrogacy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In doing so, this legislation will codify and
outline the process to <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2264883609375228715" name="_GoBack"></a>execute surrogacy agreements and
establish legal parentage in District courts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through this
legislation we will District residents with greater flexibility in terms of how
and when they bring a child into their lives while ensuring their privacy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I look forward to this legislation’s prompt
consideration and welcome co-sponsors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: purple;"><b>And here is the Bill which is being presented: </b></span></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><u><span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span></u></span><span style="font-family: TimesNewRoman; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRoman;"></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Councilmember David A. Catania<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></b></div>
<b>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A BILL</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">_________</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT
OF COLUMBIA</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">_____________</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Councilmember David A. Catania introduced the following bill,
which was referred to the Committee on ________________.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;">To amend Chapter 4 of Title 16 of the District of Columbia
Official Code to permit surrogate parenting contracts within the Districtto establish
a legal relationship between a child and his or her intended parent and govern
proceedings to establish that relationship.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT
OF COLUMBIA, That this </span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Act may be cited as the “Surrogacy Parenting Agreement Act
of 2013”.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sec. 2. Chapter 4 of Title 16 of
the District of Columbia Official Code is amended as follows:</span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(a) Section 16-401 is amended to
read as follows: </span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: black;">“(1)
“Gestational carrier” means a woman who is not an
intended parent and who agrees to gestate an embryo that is genetically unrelated
to her pursuant to a surrogate parenting agreement.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> <span style="color: black;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">“(2)
“<b>Intended parent” means an individual,
married or unmarried, who manifests the intent to be legally bound as the
parent of a child resulting from assisted reproduction.</b></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="color: black;">“(3) “Surrogate” means:</span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><span style="color: black;">(A)
A gestational carrier;</span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><span style="color: black;">(B)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A “traditional
surrogate” meaning a woman who agrees to gestate an embryo, in which the woman
is the gamete donor and the embryo was created using the sperm of the intended
father or donor arranged by the intended parent or parents.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><span style="color: black;">(C)
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A woman, over the
age of 18 who bears and carries a child for another through medically assisted
reproduction and pursuant to a written agreement, as set forth in section 16-402.
</span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="color: black;">“(4) “Surrogate
parenting contact” means the agreement between the intended parents and the
intended surrogate relating to the fee or other valuable consideration services
rendered and medical costs.</span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: black;">(b) Section 16-402 is amended to
read as follows:</span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="color: black;">“(a) A surrogate
parenting contract shall include, at a minimum:</span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><span style="color: black;">“(1) The
date the surrogate parenting contract was executed;</span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><span style="color: black;">“(2) The
person from whom the gametes originated, unless anonymously donated; and,</span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><span style="color: black;">“(3) The
identity of the intended parent or parents.</span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="color: black;">“(b) Prior to executing
the written surrogate parenting contract, a surrogate and the intended parent
shall be represented by separate independent licensed attorneys of their
choosing. </span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="color: black;">“(c) The surrogate
parenting contract shall be executed by the parties and the signatures on the
surrogate parenting contract shall be notarized, or witnessed by an equivalent method
as required by District law.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="color: black;">“(d) The parties to a
surrogate parenting contract shall not undergo an embryo transfer procedure, or
commence injectable medication in preparation for an embryo transfer for
assisted reproduction purposes until the surrogate parenting contract has been
fully executed as required by subsections (b) and (c) of this section.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="color: black;">“(e) An action to
establish the parent-child relationship between the intended parent and the child
as to a child conceived pursuant to a surrogate parenting contract may be filed
in the District before the child’s birth and shall include:</span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><span style="color: black;">“(1)
A copy of the surrogate parenting contract shall be filed by the court for the
purpose of establishing the parent-child relationship; and,</span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><span style="color: black;">“(2)
A written statement signed by the parties to the surrogate parenting contract that
shall attest, under penalty of perjury, and to the best of their knowledge and
belief, that each party has complied with this section in entering into the
surrogate parenting contract.</span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="color: black;">“(f) A surrogate
parenting contract executed in accordance with this section shall be presumptively
valid and shall not be rescinded or revoked without a court order except as
provided under subsection (g) of this section.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="color: black;">“(g)
Any failure to comply with the requirements of this section shall rebut the
presumption of the validity of the surrogate parenting contract.”.</span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sec.
3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fiscal impact statement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: black;">The
Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the
fiscal impact statement required b<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2264883609375228715" name="_GoBack"></a>y section 602(c)(3) of
the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat.
813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(3)).</span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: black;">Sec.
4. Effective date.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: black;">This
act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto
by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of
Congressional review as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of
Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813: D.C. Official
Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)) and publication in the District of Columbia Register.</span></span></div>
</b> <br />
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jakiam83http://www.blogger.com/profile/00535452453931609688noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2264883609375228715.post-5465807279952859202013-01-15T12:08:00.001-05:002013-01-15T12:08:26.157-05:00Petition to give donor conceived children more rights<a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/the-victorian-government-legislate-to-ensure-equality-and-certainty-for-donor-conceived-people?utm_campaign=friend_inviter_modal&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition&utm_term=permissions_dialog_true&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=url_share&utm_campaign=url_share_after_sign#" target="_blank">http://www.change.org/petitions/the-victorian-government-legislate-to-ensure-equality-and-certainty-for-donor-conceived-people?utm_campaign=friend_inviter_modal&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition&utm_term=permissions_dialog_true&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=url_share&utm_campaign=url_share_after_sign#</a><br />
<br />
<div class="petition-description bottom-margin-2">
<div class="">
<strong class="">"The welfare and interests of persons born or to be born as a result of treatment procedures are paramount".</strong></div>
This is the first guiding principle of the Victorian Assisted
Reproductive Treatment Act 2008 the legislation governing ART practices
(including Donor Conception) in Victoria.<br />
Donor conception is conception using donated gametes (sperms and eggs) or embryos.<br />
• People who were conceived from gametes donated in Victoria after
1998 are entitled under legislation to obtain identifying information
about their donors when they reach adulthood. <br />• People conceived
from gametes donated between 1988 and 1997 can only access identifying
information about their donors with the donor’s consent. <br />• However, people conceived from gametes donated prior to 1988 have no legislated right to obtain identifying information.<br />
This means that if you are donor conceived, your ability to access
vital information about your genetic parentage and identity entirely
depends on the date the gametes used to conceive you were donated. This
has created a complex and confusing situation of differing rights and
abilities with many serious implications.<br />
ABC 7.30 REPORT <br /><a href="http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2012/s3466044.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2012/s3466044.htm</a><br />
• On the 23rd of June 2010 the Legislative Council of the Parliament
of Victoria gave the Parliamentary Law Reform Committee terms of
reference to conduct an inquiry into access by donor-conceived people to
information about donors.<br />
• On the 28th of March 2012 the Law Reform Committee tabled its
comprehensive final report recommending that all donor conceived people
be given access to identifying information about donors.<br />
• On the 11th of October 2012 the government issued an interim
response stating that despite the comprehensive inquiry by the Law
Reform Committee and detailed report, the final government response was
to be delayed pending a six month consultation to undertake research
into the views of the broader donor community.<br />
------------------<br />
In May 1982, the Victorian Government established the Committee to
Consider the Social, Ethical and Legal Issues Arising From In Vitro
Fertilization, chaired by Professor Louis Waller (the “Waller
Committee”).<br />
The Waller Committee argued in its 1983 report that counselling for
donors was critical, recommending that in counselling a donor should be
advised "that there can be no guarantee of permanent, complete
anonymity"*.<br />
While the subsequent Victorian Infertility (Medical Procedures) Act
of 1984 included a requirement for the counselling of donors (and their
spouses, if they were married), the legislation did not specify that the
matters mentioned by the Waller Committee should be addressed in the
counselling and, in particular, did not mandate that donors be advised
that “there can be no guarantee of permanent, complete anonymity.” To
the contrary, most clinics appear to have emphasised to donors that only
non-identifying information would be released to donor-conceived
children, and that they would remain <br />anonymous.<br />
*Committee to Consider the Social, Ethical and Legal Issues Arising
from In Vitro Fertilization, Report on donor gametes in IVF, Melbourne,
1983, pp. 19-20.<br />
Excerpt from the "Inquiry into Access by Donor-Conceived People to Information about Donors" Final Report March 2012 <br /><a href="http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/committees/lawrefrom/iadcpiad/DCP_Final_Report.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/committees/lawrefrom/iadcpiad/DCP_Final_Report.pdf</a><br />
------------------<br />
This year it will be 30 years since the seminal Waller report. Please
support us in urging the Victorian government to implement the
recommendations of the Law Reform Committee which will operate to
sensitively balance the interests of both donor conceived people and
donors whilst ensuring equality and certainty with the release of
information.<br />
If you would like to know more about this issue please read the PLRC Final report available for download here: <br /><a href="http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/committees/lawrefrom/iadcpiad/DCP_Final_Report.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/committees/lawrefrom/iadcpiad/DCP_Final_Report.pdf</a></div>
jakiam83http://www.blogger.com/profile/00535452453931609688noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2264883609375228715.post-55007123486873915272013-01-15T00:06:00.003-05:002013-01-15T00:24:35.026-05:00Sad today…<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Most days, I’m able to feel a sense of family from the
extended biological family that I’ve found who’ve accepted me equally into the
family, or from my friends who I love dearly as my own created family. I try
and keep and keep a good attitude, because honestly I am lucky to have some phenomenal
people in my life, people who have the biggest hearts, and are honest and loyal
and all the other amazing traits that they posses.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are a lot of days though where I feel adrift, kind of
like a tumbleweed with no roots to attach to and not being able to find my
home. Today is one of those days. Today is one of those days that I feel like
if I just disappeared everyone who is in my life would assume that I was busy
and would get in touch later. I could just disappear and no one would really
know. (This is my fault because I’m horrible at keeping in touch!!) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This sense of being adrift comes from not feeling like I don’t
have a true immediate family. For a brief period the summer before last I felt
like I’d found my immediate family, and there was so much peace in that.
Unfortunately, surrogacy is messy and complicated and there was some fallout
due to people not really knowing how to interact with the surrogate, and
feeling forced into a relationship where they’d always been told that surrogate
children were meant for other families and not theirs. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s days like today where my heart hurts a bit more over a
surrogacy agency, doctors, lawyers, and the rest of the adults involved not successfully
making sure that this product they were creating would be o.k.. I really don’t
have a full understanding of how rigorous of psychological testing the intended
parents are put through, in the case of traditional surrogacies it’s only a ½ adoption.
The intended father is also the biological father. It wouldn’t really benefit
an agency to be thorough they’d lose the money they were going to make on the
brokering of the product they are selling. The intended father, what was his
motivation did he have a need to make sure he grew his family tree?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What about the adoptive mom, did she feel an
obligation to go through with the surrogacy scenario because she had guilt
about not being able to provide a child? For the most part I believe that the
biological mom had good intents about starting a family, but there is always
the nagging feeling in the background though that I wouldn’t have been brought
into this world without the paycheck. Altruism only extends so far I suppose.
Did all of these adults who were participating have a complete lack of
awareness that there are a lot of issues that products of surrogacy are at risk
for? I believe that for everyone involved had this surrogacy story worked out
ideally we’d all be happy. However, it didn’t the one who truly has to deal
with the fall out is the product. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today is also one of those days where I can’t quite shake
the feeling of being less then. Most days if that is a fleeting thought I can
check myself and remind myself that we’re all just people getting through life
the best way we know how, and hopefully learning lessons as we go. Today though
it’s harder to believe that. Today is a day where I see that my bio-dad and
adopted mother’s wants were more important than my needs. Today is a day where
I feel the sting that I’m less then to my birth mother. I understand that I
wasn’t created to be your child, but how is there that divide for you? I know
there is no obligation for anything towards me, there were contracts signed and
honored, and I wasn’t intended for you, but how do you deny your own flesh and
blood? For me, I see that I have your height, your sense of humor, your hair/
eye color among other things. I don’t have the luxury of ever having seen
myself reflected back from family before, maybe it’s something you can just
take for granted b/c you have always had that around you. But how do I not feel
like yours after all the similarities and the carrying for nine months? It does
make me feel less then, In my childhood home I my needs were not considered,
that taught me that I didn’t have the right to my feelings. Now that I have
found my birth mom, I feel less then her children that she planned to have for
herself. I waiver back and forth between feeling guilty that I do want things
from her when I know she’s not obligated to me, and just feeling so rejected
and alone that I’m not seen as worthy of those things. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The part to me that is truly sad though, there are more of
us products speaking up now that we’re not happy with how we came into the
world, and all I see when I scour google, facebook, youtube etc are surrogacy
agencies advertising their services to families. Where are the resources and
communities for us products of surrogacy? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m sad today, but that’s o.k. it’s bed time and I’m sure
after I get some sleep I’ll be able to hit the world with a better attitude
tomorrow. No, if I'm being really honest with myself... I'm saying I'll have a better attitude in the morning b/c that's what we're supposed to to do.. pick ourselves up by the bootstraps. Life is challenging for everyone we have our own crosses to bear, but I still don't understand intentionally putting children in the world with a high potential of dealing with these burdens.<br />
<br />Maybe one day i'll be married, and start my own family and i'll know what the feeling of being in a immediate family truly is like, not just the glimpses I've gotten throughout my lives. </div>
jakiam83http://www.blogger.com/profile/00535452453931609688noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2264883609375228715.post-51914152274571679802013-01-14T14:16:00.001-05:002013-01-14T14:16:21.077-05:00What about the Children?<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Nmy0B8TeODw" width="480"></iframe>jakiam83http://www.blogger.com/profile/00535452453931609688noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2264883609375228715.post-62537223894307057062013-01-14T12:18:00.001-05:002013-01-14T12:18:44.189-05:00Anonymous Father's Day Official Trailer<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xBdjLtQJmMI" width="480"></iframe>jakiam83http://www.blogger.com/profile/00535452453931609688noreply@blogger.com3