- Andrea Hayward
- June 27, 2008
Alisa Latto: a former Perth woman desperate for surrogacy laws to pass through the lower house. Photo: Supplied
For a former Perth woman whose lifelong friend has agreed to be a surrogate mother for her, words cannot express how important new laws to make the process legal are.
A Bill which would allow WA women to have children by surrogate mothers passed through the Upper House yesterday.
The legislation allowing surrogacy now has to pass through the Lower House, when it resumes sitting in August, before it becomes law.
If passed it would allow women who are incapable of conceiving or giving birth to a child to use surrogate mothers, who must be more than 25 years old and already have a child of their own.
Alisa Latto grew up in WA and now lives in Melbourne.
Six months ago, the 33-year-old had open heart surgery because of a medical condition known as Marfan Syndrome, an inherited connective tissue disorder that can affect the heart, blood vessels, lungs, eyes, bones and ligaments.
"I had open heart surgery six months ago for my condition so before I had my surgery I had my eggs removed," Ms Latto said.
A lifelong friend of Ms Latto's has offered to carry her and her partner's embryo so they can have their own biological child.
The embryo will be genetically tested before the IVF process begins.
Ms Latto would prefer to carry her own child but it could kill her.
"I think surrogacy is never a first option for anyone, I think people that get to surrogacy have really explored every other option they have," she said.
"It's an incredibly painful thing infertility and in my case where carrying a pregnancy will risk my life it's a really wonderful option for me, but it's still a very emotional decision.
"I mean I would much prefer to carry my own child.
"I also feel very lucky that this is an option that's available to me - that I can still have my own biological children."
But Ms Latto's path to surrogacy has been heart wrenching.
Surrogacy is not legal in Victoria, so Ms Latto and her partner have had to have all their medical treatment in NSW, the only state besides the ACT where surrogacy is allowed.
Her surrogate lived in Queensland, where surrogacy is illegal and has moved back to WA.
"It is expensive and emotionally taxing. It is made that much more difficult by the archaic legislation and it makes us furious that we have to jump so many hoops to have a child," Ms Latto said.
If the surrogacy legislation is approved in the Lower House, Ms Latto's friend can give birth here and Ms Latto and her partner can be recognised as their child's legal parents from the outset.
"It means the difference between being the legal mother of my child as opposed to my dear friend who has offered to be my surrogate, being the legal guardian of my child," Ms Latto said.
"I know this law does not affect many people but for us it is the most important things in our lives.
"Our whole future depends on this law being passed."
Without the laws Ms Latto would have to adopt her own biological child, a process which takes about four years.
If the legislation is passed, Ms Latto and her partner's names would be registered on the birth certificate upon their child's birth.
Both Ms Latto and her partner have undergone an extensive psychological evaluation process, required under NSW law.
They are now waiting on a decision on whether the surrogacy is approved.
Recent Comments