Monday, January 25, 2010

Surrogacy in India - New Problems Arise

At GlobalIVF.com we do not advocate one surrogacy decision over another. For some IPs, who are able to afford the high costs associated with gestational surrogacy, going to the United States is the right choice. But for many others, who cannot absorb the incredible price tag that comes with an American surrogacy, the only options remain in other countries, where surrogacy is not as longstanding both legally and ethically. India is gaining great popularity in the world of surrogacy - because of its advanced medical treatment and its relatively inexpensive pricetag.. But unfortunately it comes with other costs, some which might not have been taken into account at the onset of the journey.

At GlobalIVF.com, we are encouraged and excited by all the global options available to us. But as Theresa Erickson points out below, before choosing your surrogacy destination, please make sure you do your research.




India Fertility Industry Hit with Another Blow & Americans Giving Birth Overseas Using an Egg Donor


Tuesday 26 Jan 2010 By Theresa M. Erickson

In an article that was just posted in India, controvery continues to follow India and its fertility industry. In this article entitled rightly so, “In the Womb of Controversy,” the writer states the following:



“As high drama is being played out in Indian courts over surrogacy issues, the US consulate in Chennai, perhaps worried about the rash of litigations has decided to tighten its visa processing norms, particularly for couples coming to the city for fertility treatment and assisted reproduction.



About a month ago, Vimala (name changed), a US citizen, returning home after delivering a healthy baby boy, was put through a grilling at the US consulate in Chennai when she went to obtain a passport for her new-born. On learning that she had conceived the child with the help of donor eggs (through assisted reproduction by transfer of eggs or oocytes donated by another woman), the consulate declined to recognise her as the biological mother.



“The father’s name and mother’s name are mentioned in the consular report of birth. This certificate is issued to recognise a US citizen child born outside the country. But the certificate for my son does not list me as the mother. I had to go through a lawyer to process adoption in the US and get the certificate amended to incorporate my name,” Vimala said in a communication to her doctor.

The incident triggered protests among a section of fertility experts in Chennai and kicked off a debate on personal privacy and patient confidentiality and the need for laws. “The laws in India and those of countries from where patients come for treatment should be made clear. Our guidelines state that a surrogate mother gives a written undertaking relinquishing all rights over the child, and the same applies to an egg donor as well,” pointed out Dr Priya Selvaraj of the Chennai-based GG hospital.



Dr Falguni Bavishi of the Ahmedabad-based Bavishi Fertility Institute insisted that none of her patients, five so far from the US and who delivered through donor eggs, faced ‘harassment’ at the consulate. “We made it clear to the consulate that the delivery was through egg donation,” she said.



With the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill 2008 still in the cans, India’s stand on issues relating to surrogacy remains a set of guidelines on paper. Said Dr PM Bhargava, the chief architect of the Bill and former member of National Knowledge Commission: “The draft bill clearly says that if anyone from outside the country wishes to have a child using ART procedure, they have to produce evidence that they can take back the child without problems.”



According to Bhargava, one of the architects of the Bill, issues relating to surrogacy have been addressed in the proposed legislation. “We had foreseen problems like this (the legal tussle between divorced Japanese parents and their daughter Manjhi Yamada, born from an Indian surrogate mother and the case of the German couple fighting for citizenship for their twins),” he said.



In the case of the German couple, the Supreme Court has suggested that adoption would be the only way out for their surrogate twins.



Authorities in Germany, which does not recognise surrogacy, were willing to consider their application for a temporary visa for the twins for initiation of adoption process.



US consulate officials declined to comment, merely citing the US Federal statutes governing acquisition of US citizenship by birth abroad to a US citizen parent. Section 7 FAM 1131.4-2 (Citizenship in Artificial and In Vitro Insemination Cases) states that “a child born abroad to a surrogate mother who is the blood mother (that is, who was the egg-donor) and whose father was a US citizen is treated for citizenship purposes as a child born out of wedlock”.



But with the ART bill gathering dust and India emerging as a major hub for transcultural surrogacy, the country could well see more cases like that of Jan Balaz and Susan Lohle, the German couple battling to save their surrogate twins from becoming stateless citizens. “

However, women using egg donors and giving birth overseas anywhere need to be aware of this issue, as I have seen it several times in Israel, as well as other countries. Currently, you will have to do an adoption once you return home to the US if you inform them that an egg donor was used. Be careful! And, again this is why it is important to do your research beforehand.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Video Shoot for GlobalIVF.com

This weekend was exciting!
GlobalIVF.com did our first extensive 'experts' video shoot. For two days, we interviewed top Reproductive Endocrinologists - including Dr. Guy Ringler, Dr. Sahakian, Dr. Daniel Potter and Dr. David Tourgeman, we interviewed top egg donor agency - Gifted Journeys, and the very reputable surrogacy agency - Agency for Surrogacy Solutions, Inc run by Kathryn Kaycoff-Manos and Lauri Berger de Brito. We interviewed lawyer Rich Vaughn from NFLC law plus psychologists Andrea Bryman and Abigail Glass. The shoots went well and we've got lots of great stuff to share with you in the upcoming months on our experts page. Be on the lookout!

If you haven't already signed up to be a member of GlobalIVF.com, please do! GlobalIVF.com is a great resource, full of information for IPs looking to travel overseas for any Assisted Reproduction services, and for IPs coming to the States for the same. It lists clinics, laws, costs, etc around the globe. Global IVF.com is such a valuable resource -- finally a one stop place to get all of the necessary information to make an educated decision about creating your family. Knowledge is empowerment!

GlobalIVF.com is always looking for stories from IPs who have gone abroad for services or IPs who have come to the United States... there are blogs, articles, forums... so if you've got a story to share, or an upcoming fertility trip planned, please get in touch with us at info@globalivf.com so that your experiences might help others.

Have a great day!

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Ranting & Raving about Doctors on the Web

The following link raises some interesting thoughts regarding rants and raves about doctors on the internet. I'm sure what will follow is the same consideration regarding services -- including surrogacy agencies, egg donation agencies, clinics around the world, etc. I guess more 'food for thought' that we should not just blindly trust what we read on the web and before making any very important decisions - like choosing a doctor, a clinic or an agency - do your research. Here at Global IVF, Inc - we want you to be an educated consumer and an educated global patient.  That is our main goal!




Docs seek to stifle patients' rants on Web sites

Doctors worried about their reputations are trying to fight back against bad Web site reviews, requiring patients to sign contracts - critics call them "gag orders" - promising not to post comments to public sites. But the move may be backfiring.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34794632/ns/health-health_care/from/ET

Friday, January 1, 2010

Happy New Year from Global IVF


Happy 2010 from all of us at Global IVF!