Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and Surrogacy as an option

Abstract: Surrogacy in simple words can be defined as a mechanism used for treating a woman to get her pregnant and bear a child for another couple or individual with the help of Assisted Reproductive Technology. Married couples and single individuals from across the world may require surrogacy arrangements for a number of reasons. Though this arrangement seems to be mutually beneficial for all the parties that are involved, there are certain complex ethical, moral, social, and legal issues associated with it. These complexities associated with surrogacy have made this practice a major concern across the world. Surrogacy in India has had its own journey from India becoming popular for its commercial hub of surrogacy since 2002 to the introduction of the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016, which restricted commercial surrogacy. Surrogacy with the help of ART, is an important medical treatment available to all those couples and single individuals mostly, who are not able to produce a child and bear a child naturally. In India, where there are millions of childless couples, surrogacy can be practiced in harmony if complex and delicate issues concerning surrogacy, are addressed effectively through properly framed laws that would clearly define the rights and obligations of the surrogate mother, intended parents, and the new-born child.

Keywords: Assisted reproductive technology, intended parent, surrogacy, surrogate mother.