Surrogate mother....a solution
by Abdel Maguid Ramzy

Surrogacy is a medical solution with religious, social, psychological and
ethical impact.
The religious part I will not discuss as I am not an expert in that. But just a
point to wonder about is that lactating mothers are allowed in Islam and
these children feed on the other woman's body fluid. Although this may be
just a part time job (also may be a paid job) in contrast to a full time 9 month
job in Surrogacy.

The social part is getting a third party in the family. The husband may think
of remarrying another woman and after marriage force her to be a surrogate
mother to the original wife and alternatingly with her own baby. She will
either remain to be his wife or be divorced after some surrogate events.
This new wife may always remind the original wife that she is the one that
gave her her child. The original wife will always feel inferior or fight back.
What kind of family is that? What environment for the children to grow in?

The psychological part includes how the surrogate mother will feel and
bind to the growing baby in her womb. Will she just deliver and leave? Will
this child have two mothers that he will relate to? Or will he be mislead
about his birth? What about later in his life if he knows, what will be his
reaction? Foster parents are not uncommon in the West and adoption is
there and not unlikely that a child to have 2 mothers. When proposing to a
wife will he declare his conception arrangements? Mind you friends this is
specific to our region (AL-NASSAB) and not in the West.

The ethical part is the inevitable trade issue that will erupt including poor
people doing this as a source of income. Men marring women and after that
subjecting them to be rented for surrogacy. National and International
Agents for surrogacy. If this already exists for renal transplant, it will be
even more feasible for surrogacy. All the remaining dignity for women race
will be lost in this issue as they will be talked into, bought into or forced into
(or else divorce) surrogacy. Bidding after conception and before delivery for
a higher price or else deliver elsewhere. All the human ethics and morals
will be lost. Blackmailing the original couples or else disclosing to the
family, friends. Will a woman do that for her own sister let alone a
stranger? Will any of the ladies in the panel ask themselves if they would do
it even for the own sisters?

Yes we all have patients who may be eligible for the need for surrogacy e.g.
recurrent aborts, SLE, uterine adhesions, TB endometritis, repeated
failure of implantation after IVF ... etc. and we feel for them. But as the
saying goes about the hands in cold water or flame. Shall we deny them of
our medical capabilities? Will you do it anyway? Will us gynecologist do
that and plead or fetch for surrogate mothers if our wives had any of these
conditions and this is our only hope for parenthood? Think about it .. .. ..