Task Force: International Surrogacy Norms 

Congratulations!

You have been hired by the World Health Organization (WHO) to create a policy designed to create international surrogacy norms. You will specifically be asked to address Americans visiting lower income countries with the goal of paying less for surrogate mothers. 

Why Are We Doing This?

Surrogacy allows infertile couples and aspiring parents/guardians the opportunity to have children of their own. Health care insurance in the United States generally does not cover most costs associated with surrogacy, making it incredibly difficult and expensive to find a surrogate. In India, for example, where surrogacy is significantly cheaper than in the United States, there are over 600 clinics that bring over 400 million dollars a year! This practice has been increasingly controversial in the past few years with concerns rising over the exploitation of the poor in lower income countries. Here, we ask you to consider whether or not and when surrogacy should be allowed overseas. 

Steps:

1. Before you begin, research information about surrogacy overseas (consider the difference in costs, what countries are most often chosen, etc). 
2. Then, try to come up with a decision about whether or not it should be allowed. Try to brainstorm when it should be allowed (if at all).
   1. If you have decided it should not be allowed, how do you plan to defend your decision?
      1. How will you ensure people in lower income areas can afford surrogates?
      2. How might it impact the economy of lower income countries where surrogacy sought by United States citizens is rampant?
   2. If you have decided to restrict overseas surrogacy to certain circumstances, define them.
      1. When will surrogacy overseas be allowed?
      2. When will it not be allowed?
3. Think through the possible objections about your decision and guidelines that someone might have.
4. Share with the group and see if you can convince them that your decision best allows accessibility to surrogacy while considering the exploitation of citizens in lower income countries.

Things to Keep in Mind:

•  You do not have to come up with an exhaustive list of guidelines for surrogacy overseas. Choose a few that you are prepared to defend.