Surrogate Mothers

Paper Summary:

The purpose of this paper is to introduce, discuss, and analyze the topic of surrogate motherhood. Specifically the author discusses the reasons why women choose to become surrogate mothers. The paper touches on the conflicting viewpoints on this issue including why some women choose to become surrogate mothers simply for the fees involved. However, the author also argues that there are other surrogates who do it because they truly care about childless couples. The paper stresses that surrogacy may not be for every woman, but there are very valid reasons to support surrogate motherhood, including giving childless couples a chance at parenthood.

From the Paper:

"Surrogate mothers serve as artificial mothers for parents who cannot conceive and/or carry children on their own. Sometimes, the parents have healthy sperm and egg cells, but for some reason the mother cannot carry a baby to term. In this case, the eggs and sperm are harvested and they are implanted into the surrogate. In other cases, the woman's eggs are not healthy, and the male's sperm is used to fertilize the surrogate's egg, which the surrogate then carries to full term and delivers a baby. Either way, the surrogate carries the child for nine months, and then relinquishes the baby to the natural parents. In the United States and much of Europe, this is a legal procedure, and the surrogate receives a fee for carrying the baby. This is wrong. A woman should not carry a baby for money, no matter what the reason, and many experts agree."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Aigen, Dr. Betsy P. "Motivations of Surrogate Mothers." Surrogacy.com. 1996. 13 May 2008. <http://www.surrogacy.com/psychres/article/motivat.html>
• Dooley, Dolores, Joan McCarthy, Tina Garanis-Papadatos, and Panagiota Dalla-Yorgia. Ethics of New Reproductive Technologies: Cases and Questions. New York: Berghahn Books, 2003.
• Levinson, Ralph, and Michael J. Reiss, eds. Key Issues in Bioethics: A Guide for Teachers. New York: RoutledgeFalmer, 2003.
• Litz, Steven. "Approximate Expenses." SurrogateMothers.com. 2004. 13 May 2008. <http://www.surrogatemothers.com/expense.html>
• Sather, Trevor, ed. Pros and Cons: A Debater's Handbook. London: Routledge, 1999.

More papers on Surrogate Mothers:

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• Argumentative Essay # 9843 : "Surrogate Motherhood"

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