Organizational selection and assessment of women entering a surrogacy agreement in the UK

Article


van den Akker, O. 1999. Organizational selection and assessment of women entering a surrogacy agreement in the UK. Human Reproduction. 14 (1), pp. 262-266. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/14.1.262
TypeArticle
TitleOrganizational selection and assessment of women entering a surrogacy agreement in the UK
Authorsvan den Akker, O.
Abstract

In the UK, surrogacy procedures are unregulated and not monitored. Information concerning the selection and assessment of intended (the mother commissioning) and surrogate mothers (the mother carrying and delivering the baby) is therefore not generally available (BMA, 1996). It is important to determine what type of assessment is used, and how selection takes place within the organizations dealing with surrogate motherhood arrangements. The present survey enquired about the incidence, selection and assessment procedures of all registered surrogate and commissioning couples, and aimed to find out what advice and support is given. Eight organizations took part in the survey, six were clinics and two agencies dealing with surrogate arrangements. Two voluntary organizations/ helplines were also surveyed, but their data are not relevant to the results presented here. An interview and questionnaire approach was used. Psychosocial assessment was minimally addressed by all organizations, and no fixed procedures for assessment and selection were employed. Despite this, few incidences of controversial cases were reported. Confidence in this practice could be increased in the future if both parties embarking on a surrogacy arrangement knew they were properly selected and assessed. A regulatory body could monitor consistent use of professional evidence-based criteria prior to arrangements.

Research GroupApplied Health Psychology group
PublisherOxford University Press (OUP)
JournalHuman Reproduction
ISSN0268-1161
Publication dates
Print01 Jan 1999
Publication process dates
Deposited25 Nov 2009
Output statusPublished
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/14.1.262
LanguageEnglish
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