Hyderabad: The final guidelines of the Assisted Reproductive Technique (ART) has got several gynecologists and IVF centres on tenterhooks as the government has set the condition that someone can be a surrogate only once.
Protection of the surrogate is of prime concern. According to sources in the committee: “We have seen cases where surrogates were being exploited for monetary gains. The protection of the surrogate mother is of prime importance due to health risks involed therein. During pregnancy or childbirth, the surrogate is well taken care of by the hospital but after that if there are any complications, will she be attended to? This is also an important aspect.”
At present, clinics opt for two to three surrogate pregnancies. The stress is also on couples opting for a woman from within their own family instead of a surrogate mother offered by the IVF clinic.
A senior gynaecologist said, “When it is a family member, then the commercial aspect is done away with. But if no one in the family is willing, then the option of a woman outside the family can’t be denied to them.” The need to crack the whip on commercial surrogacy is due to the manner in which couples are being lured by some.
Dr Roya Rozati, a senior gynaecologist said, “Websites displaying pictures of women and the various services offered to couples is not the right way. This has to stop. There will now be a proper tracking system to ensure that couples are not exploited and the intended benefit of a healthy child is provided to them.”
Doctors cry kill Bill, find differences in old, new
Gynecologists have found major discrepancies in the Assisted Reproductive Technique (ART) Bill and want them to be addressed in the final draft before it is introduced in the Rajya Sabha.
Experts say that the Bill that was shown to them in 2014 is very much different from what they had seen when it was drafted in 2005.
Former senior vice-president of Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists Society of India, Dr Laxmi Shrikhande said, “The Bill states that from one donor not more than seven eggs must be derived but it can be given to two recipients. How is that possible? They have created a clause which will be very difficult to implement at the clinical level.”
Another aspect was that the treatment must not be carried out till 23 years of age. A senior gynecologist said, “In our country the legal age of marriage is 18 years. With some women having bad quality eggs, it means that the chance to conceive with a good egg is lost as the patients will have to wait till they are 23.”
The age restriction has been defined between 23 and 50 years and gynecologists have requested that it must be reconsidered as 20. At the same time, the guidelines squarely blame the treating doctor for the death of a surrogate mother during the period of pregnancy in the clinical set up. This has been strongly objected to.
