No more Baby Manjis in India, draft law on surrogacy ready
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Friday came out with a draft Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2008, that said the surrogate baby of a separated or divorced couple will remain their “legitimate child” if both parties had consented to assisted reproductive technology (ART) to have the baby. The baby’s birth certificate will have the name(s) of the genetic parents/parent.
The draft Bill is expected to be tabled in Parliament’s winter session.
A foreigner or foreign couple not resident in India, or a non-resident Indian individual or couple seeking surrogacy in India, will have to appoint a local guardian who will be legally responsible for the care of the surrogate mother during and after pregnancy until the baby is delivered to the parent/parents or the local guardian.
“No woman under 21 years of age and over 45 years of age shall be eligible to act as a surrogate mother under this Act,” says the draft, adding, “Provided that no woman shall act as a surrogate for more than three successful live births in her life.” No woman shall donate oocytes more than six times in her life, with not less than a three-month interval between oocyte pick-ups.
Gynaeologists say the absence of a legal framework so far has resulted in college students ‘selling’ semen and eggs for pocket money.
Recent Comments