The Trend in Surrogacy
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The Trend in Surrogacy
Several options are currently available in the medical field to support birth control, women and families on child matters. Though there are some areas around the world that fertility rates are high, other people lack the ability to conceive opting to own their child (Frank, 2010). There is the option of adoption, where one takes the children commonly who are parentless and supports them as their own. However, with the advancement of technology, there is the option of surrogacy where a woman is paid to carry a pregnancy for another who cannot conceive. Though the process is involving with dire implications at some point, people still go for the option.
India comes in the limelight while discussing surrogacy due to its legalization of the practice and availability of the option at a lower cost. Even as most developed countries ban the practice, India gives couples from around the globe the option offering commercial surrogacy services (Frank, 2010). As critiques raise concerns on avenue for the exploitation of women, the practice can thrive best if properly regulated since a female will make decision out of free will to gestate for a family (Wilkinson, 2015). In actual sense, the burden of carrying a fetus for nine months is hectic, and a woman may not get proper compensation for the labor.
The criteria used for valuing the level of the burden a woman bears during the period to delivery may not be clear and opening gaps for exploitation (Kuczynski, 2008). Surrogacy is a complex practice with implications that need proper regulation if it should be undertaken and ensure that it is only available to those in need of the service. Even as the practice should come out of free will for those who participate, it opens an avenue for exploitation as the desire for money and poverty will take the lead in influencing those outsourced for the procedure. For most women who have participated in the practice, they would confirm that their economic level is what drives them to accept the offer since they need money (Wilkinson, 2015).
Therefore, the primary thing that drives the demand for commercial surrogacy services is the inability of a woman to conceive a child (Kuczynski, 2008). Couples must understand the implications of surrogacy and have a chance to make an informed decision on what is best for them. As much as it is understandable that the procedure is available for those who are unable to conceive, there is also possibility that some people can opt not to carry the pregnancy and hire another person. This is the point where proper regulations are required to ensure that even as those who seek services can pay for them, the procedure is only sold to those who deserve it. According to Wilkinson (2015), it is difficult for the regulator and providers to maintain the practice within its reach opening avenue for exploitation and subject to individual choice.
Poverty is the force driving the procedure within states where it is offered. A person needs money while the other can offer, and, therefore, poor women opt for the option and will offer themselves for hiring without thinking about the implications. It is obvious that those who admit to surrogacy will find the money enough for them to accept the offer since; with the poverty levels, they may not have seen or received such amounts of money in their lifetime (Frank, 2010). Poverty opens women to exploitation within countries that provide the services as the compensation may not match the actual labor and risk involved throughout the process.
Surrogacy is, therefore, a service of the willing to promote commercial services within states that offer the services and service providers. It is obvious that the countries where the services are provided reap much from them as the providers and the participants (Cook, Kapur, & Voigt, 2013). Offering surrogacy as a commercial service boosts the economy and drives the inflow of foreign currencies healthy for growth and stability of the economy. Even as the government acts as a regulator for the legality and illegality of the services, the economic factor may drive acceptance of the service as opposed to exploitation (Parks, 2010).
As much as the country reaps from commercialization of the services, operation of the skills available from the practitioners also boosts the field of practice. Countries like India and Nepal have skilled personnel to support those who carry babies for other women and ensure that the practice is successful (Frank, 2010). The success of surrogacy, therefore, depends on the availability of those offering the services within the skills required and sophistication of technologies to ensure that the process is successful. People will only be attracted to seek surrogacy services where there are skills, and the process is successful and without complications since complexities created may result in liability for those seeking the services.
Regulators, commonly the government through legislation, come out clear to ensure that the service is undertaken in a moral and ethical manner (Cook, Kapur, & Voigt, 2013). Governments have legislations to regulate the practice and ensure that minimization of exploitation and only those qualified offer the services to tame quacks and reduce risks (Parks, 2010). In the wake of other countries banning the services within their boundaries, administrations within the states providing the services, therefore, cannot assume the practice. Government goodwill and sound policies are necessary for ensuring that the method does not run the country into a crisis from the risks arising from the process of surrogacy.
In as much as surrogacy encourages medical tourism and boosts the economy of the countries offering the services, tight controls are on the demand to ensure safety of the practice and Nationals. It is incumbent on the governments to ensure that costing for the services is done appropriately to avoid exploitation of the services (Kuczynski, 2008). Increase in the demand and availability of people for the procedure is likely to inflate negatively the cost and, therefore, it is appropriate for a government to ensure that the pay is maintained within levels determined.
Conclusion
Availability of surrogate services at a lower cost from around the globe has driven the demand for the babies born out of the procedure. With the western countries banning it and the services available in the United States at a higher cost, people are opting for countries where the services are less costly to meet their demand. Practitioners within the field would agree that the process is complicated with much demand even with some of them having women ready for the services once the clients avail (Cook, Kapur, & Voigt, 2013). Even with complexity of the process, there are still those people who need the services and those who need the money to offer the services. With all the benefits and advantages coming with the procedure, the business will spur in countries that provide the services.
It is, therefore, important for the governments and regulators to control the process and ensure that the practice is within the standards and limits set to protect interest of the citizens. The regulators within the sector must also set higher standards to eliminate the risks and possible complications that may arise from the procedures involved. It is not possible to overrule surrogacy due to the benefits for the parties involved. It is proper that those within the procedure monitor the whole process for safety. The process must ensure adequate compensation and avoid exploitation, only involving those who offer themselves for the service, in a controlled manner.
Surrogacy as a practice can only thrive if complications are eliminated and the practice regulation rise above the benefits to ensure that the practice is within the standards set by both the government and regulators. Technologies available require integration to the process to ensure success of the process to ease the procedures both for the providers and those used in the process. The use of appropriate technologies and procedures will ensure that the practice progresses and is carried out in a safe manner (Wilkinson, 2015).