[Australia] "Australian couple abandons surrogate baby in India" by Eryk Bagshaw

Perhaps it is not surprising that as the surrogacy practice expanded around the world that more cases like this would arise.  It is appalling and disgusting behaviour by the intended parents and should serve as a warning to all intending parents to act ethically at all times during the surrogacy process.  

Each time something like this happens, the likelihood of a shut down of overseas surrogacy as an option for Australian intended parents increases.  A few unethical IPs are to blame. 

If you are looking for some handy starting ethical guidelines for doing surrogacy you can't go past Ryan J's comments in a recent surrogacy court case.  See here.

An Australian couple has abandoned a surrogate baby in India, despite Australian consular officials pleading with the couple not to leave without the child. 

Fairfax Media understands a baby boy was left behind while his parents returned to Australia. 
On Wednesday night, an ABC investigation revealed that a surrogate mother gave birth to twins in India in 2012. 

"They already had one sex and they didn't want the other child," Family Court Chief Justice Diana Bryant told the ABC.

Chief Justice Bryant said the Australian High Commission in New Delhi delayed giving the Australian parents a visa to try and convince them to take both children home. 

The ABC investigation suggested that pressure had been applied to the High Commission to grant the visas by a senior political figure. 

"Yes, there definitely was some pressure being placed to expedite the process to ensure they could return to Australia," said Chief Justice Bryant.

Bob Carr, who was foreign minister at the time, denies ever receiving any correspondence regarding a surrogacy issue in India. 

"I don't recall surrogacy coming up in terms of our ... the bi-lateral relationship between Australia and India, and I did not contact the Australian High Commission," he told the ABC.

Consular officials told Chief Justice Bryant that they were concerned money had exchanged hands. 
"If that's true, that's basically trafficking children," she said, 

Chief Judge John Pascoe has called for a national inquiry into surrogacy.

"I am really concerned that this issue has not received the attention it properly deserves," he said.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said she would be concerned if the life of a child was put at risk. 

"Presumably the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade could go back through its records but I'm not able to access the former activities and advice of the previous government," she said. 

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been contacted for comment. 


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