Right to a child

Right to a child

1. Central issue- is a child a gift or a right?

2. Surrogacy

   • definition- woman agrees to carry and give birth to a baby for a couple who are infertile/can't carry own child
   • For
     • enables infertile couple to have own child
     • selfless, loving act to give birth for someone else
   • Against
     • could be against God's will- he may have chosen them to be infertile
     • surrogate may change her mind and keep the baby, legally she is the natural mother
     • if baby born with disability couple may not want it
     • may deprive child in need of adoption, a home
     • buying and selling human as if they're property- slavery
     • Illegal under UK law
   • Baby M- William and Elizabeth Stern entered surrogacy agreement with Mary Whitehead as Elizabeth had MS. Mary decided to keep baby and couple sued to be recognised as legal parents.
     • court ruled contract was invalid and Mary was mother and William was father. went to family court and William was awarded custody and Mary visiting rights under 'best interests of child analysis'

3. IVF- In-Vitro fertilisation

   • process where egg is fertilised by sperm outside womb.
   • available for free in some areas - free in Worcester but not London due to pop. density
   • Oldest woman 69- wanted a son. recently 70 year old had IVF to settle family arguments
   • For
     • allows childless couple to have own children
     • example of humans using technology to help rather than destroy
   • Against
     • Catholic church disapprove because e.g. of playing God and embryos are destroyed
     • only 20-30% chance of success
     • unnatural
     • postcode lottery- v. expensive and only free in certain places
     • causes a lot of stress emotionally and physically on woman due to hormones and drugs
     • 70 year old given IVF- is this fair on child, she'll be 80 when it's only 10
     • designer babies- choose gender, characteristics etc. can choose sex in India, females tend to be rejected. illegal in UK
     • Is it morally acceptable to select embryo on basis it's match for terminally ill child? not allowed in UK but is in other countries