Pack your bags, Intended Parents....it's not the news we wanted to hear in Washington State! HB2793 (the bill regarding the legalization of Gestational Surrogacy in WA) did not pass the Senate. Apparently Senator Murray killed the bill when he spoke out against it in caucus and it never came up for a vote. All those waiting here, in WA State, with bated breath to build their family via Gestational Surrogacy will have to travel out of their home state and find carriers elsewhere! Or find a family member or friend that will be a 'compassionate' surrogate with no hope of reimbursement or compensation for anything other then medical and other direct expenses.
I am feeling particularly saddened for all of those Intended Parents who will make the sacrifice in order to have a family at all, by traveling out of Washington and having to maintain a long distance relationship with all parties involved, namely their surrogate/carrier. Hopefully when this bill is reintroduced in 2011 we will all be ready to calm concerns, show support, and move past whatever issues some may have regarding building a family through gestational surrogacy here in WA State.
Until then there are those who are very adept in assisting out of state couples on how to chose an agency and then, from there, a surrogate or carrier. There are those who consult and share knowledge and information and can educate Intended Parents on what to look for and expect from a surrogacy program. If you need guidance and support, it is available! Don't give up hope!
For Surrogacy Consulting here in WA state you can contact LaMothe Services, LLC http://lamotheservices.com/ for personal, in home consultations. For others, there is our phone and e-mail support program as well as http://infertilityanswers.org/ as an information resource for Third Party Family Building Options which is free to all.
Sharon LaMothe
Posted by: Sharon LaMothe~
Founder of LaMothe Surrogacy Consulting
Owner LaMothe Services
