Surrogacy

[boxy]

The Chief Justice of the Family Court has called for the immediate legalisation of commercial surrogacy in Australia.

In a wide-ranging speech in Brisbane last night, Justice Diana Bryant told journalists that current laws were driving couples to enter into unethical arrangements overseas.

She said two disturbing cases of child abandonment in India and Thailand should force the Federal Government to act.

Justice Bryant said Australian women should be able to be paid to be a surrogate mother.

"I personally think we should regulate and allow commercial surrogacy in Australia," she said.

"If we allow it in Australia, we then can regulate it and ensure that it's done on ethical terms."

Cant argue with that. The way that Australians have been recently abusing international surrogacy should be an embarrassment to all Australians. Going overseas to conceive and birth a child, and then abandoning any sprogs that are "surplus to requirement". Disgusting.

In much of Australia, it is specifically illegal to pay someone to carry a surrogate child. Legalise and regulate. ASAP.

[Black Orchid]

The way that Australians have been recently abusing international surrogacy should be an embarrassment to all Australians

Why? It's appalling of course but an embarrassment to all Australians? Get real. You don't think that all muslims should be appalled and embarrassed by the terrorism brought about in the name of Islam. Hypocrite.

Going overseas to conceive and birth a child, and then abandoning any sprogs that are "surplus to requirement". Disgusting.

Where is the condemnation of the source countries for encouraging it?

Other than that I agree and I see no reason why surrogacy should not be legal and regulated. It would be a sensible thing to do.

[boxy]

The way that Australians have been recently abusing international surrogacy should be an embarrassment to all Australians

Why? It's appalling of course but an embarrassment to all Australians? Get real. You don't think that all muslims should be appalled and embarrassed by the terrorism brought about in the name of Islam. Hypocrite.

Actually, I do think Muslims should be embarrassed and ashamed of what is done in the name of their religion.

Only a week ago, I posted on just this subject: "Not being religious, I can't really relate, however, I think I'd feel a bit of responsibility for what others did in the name of the philosophy that I choose to follow. If someone else was deliberately killing innocents in the name of my religion, either I'd need to physically oppose them, or renounce my faith in that religion."

Presumably, given that you think Australians should feel no embarrassment for what other Australians do, you are the one who will be absolving moderate Muslims of any need to react to extremism. Hypocrisy cuts both ways, eh. Something to think about

[mellie]

I feel deeply sorry for couples (heterosexual) who cannot have children of their own, though for a variety of ethical reasons (mostly the abuse of surrogacy by those unscrupulous, selfish or depraved ) I don't believe legalising paid-surrogacy (biological prostitution) here in Australia is the answer.

I'm sure boxy would like to pay some smacked-out hooker to bear his off-spawn, though i'm not so sure this is in the best interests of the child.

[mellie]

Just one example of how "paid surrogacy" has it's troubles.

A recent case in the UK, whereby the reproductive factory (surrogate) won a court case to keep her child.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... birth.html

[boxy]

Wow, from your own link...

But speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail, the surrogate, who can only be named as Miss N to protect the identity of the baby, told how she had changed her mind because of a startling series of confessions by the wife.

She said the woman, identified as Mrs W, told her her husband was controlling and violent towards her, and had once tried to strangle her with a car seat-belt.

The woman had previously tried to use a prostitute as her surrogate, Miss N claimed, and had told her she would abort any child with Down’s syndrome, describing children with the condition as ‘animals’.

Miss N said Mrs W had ‘snapped’ during a foul-mouthed row with an older teenage child, and that she had seen the woman bang the teenager’s head against an oven.

Doesn't sound like a problem, sounds like a good solution, given it got that far

[Neferti]

People who cannot become pregnant in the usual fashion, really should not start demanding that they have a "baby". Grow Up. Take charge of your own life. Do something positive. There are still kids who need foster parents for no reason other than they were "born". Take in one of those if you want to prove your Mothering skills.

Homosexual couples (male and female) should NOT be allowed to have children either.

The World is screwed up enough without all this crap.

Maybe we need WW3 to sort it all out.

[boxy]

People who cannot become pregnant in the usual fashion, really should not start demanding that they have a "baby". Grow Up. Take charge of your own life. Do something positive. There are still kids who need foster parents for no reason other than they were "born". Take in one of those if you want to prove your Mothering skills.

While I tend to agree, it's human nature to want a kid with your own DNA. And people will find a way, legal or not, to do this. How are you proposing to stop people from using a turkey baster?

The UK alternative seems workable. Allow non-profit agreements, and if there is a disagreement, let the courts work it out with the main determining factor being the welfare of the child.

[Neferti]

Turkey baster?

IF we ceased, immediately, all Government "benefits" for people to have babies and bring up kids, would be a good start. Most of us never got anything from The Government to help us bring up children.

Costello/Howard should be shot for bringing this in or "how will we cope without the baby bonus" crap.

If You want to have a family, THINK (or use contraceptives) before you fuck, and accept that having a child is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY and only you should go without to pay for the up-bringing of the kid .... it is NOT the Taxpayers' fault you got pregnant.

[mellie]