Once again, the issue of surrogate mothers has become a hot topic of debate. As infertile couples tell their sad stories, it seems difficult to reject their call for the deregulation of surrogate pregnancies. However, the question of how to go about meeting their needs without commercializing the female body is a difficult dilemma and involves some hard choices.
The issue of surrogate motherhood is not simply about a woman providing the use of her uterus. A surrogate mother also has to face many risks during pregnancy and delivery.
They include amniotic fluid embolism, ectopic pregnancy, infertility, entering a vegetative state, death, stillbirth, premature birth and giving birth to an unhealthy child.
There are also the problems of infections or death following fetal reduction surgery and multiple births. In addition to providing her womb, a surrogate mother devotes 10 months of her life, both physically and psychologically, and her whole family — husband, children, in-laws — are involved and deeply affected.
Apart from close relatives and friends and a few so-called charitable people, most of those who, knowing all the risks and difficulties, still decide to volunteer for the task mostly come from economically disadvantaged groups.
Since it takes at least NT$1 million (US$34,280) to employ a surrogate mother, infertile couples may rather hire a surrogate mother who minimizes risks, who is obedient and who does what she is told.
Therefore, the economically disadvantaged always seem to be the first choice. This means that it is very likely that Taiwan would get a surrogacy system designed for the rich that would give them special privileges and allow them to buy a service that might lead to the injury or death of someone else.
In a way, they might even buy the autonomy of the provider, thus turning a woman into a mere tool for producing children. This economic temptation would erode the human dignity of the economically disadvantaged.
As the income gap between the rich and less well-off continues to widen in Taiwan, a surrogacy system could lead to the exploitation of women. Should the current ban be lifted, putting healthy surrogate mothers at risk just to satisfy the desires of childless couples?
This is an issue that should be collectively decided by the public.
According to Taiwanese law, live organ donation is legal only among blood relatives within the fifth degree of relationship, and donations from so-called “charitable people” is illegal.
The law is based not only on respect for human life and dignity, but also to prevent exploitation that could result from selling organs for monetary gain in the name of charity.
That is how strict the nation’s regulations are when it comes to a situation when there is no other way to save a life.
Should looser regulations be adopted to satisfy the desires of childless couples who want a child by letting such “charitable” people function as surrogate mothers?
This is a serious question that society should think long and hard about.
Chang Hui-ju is deputy secretary-general of Taiwan Women’s Link.
Translated by Eddy Chang
After nine days of holidays for the Lunar New Year, government agencies and companies are to reopen for operations today, including the Legislative Yuan. Many civic groups are expected to submit their recall petitions this week, aimed at removing many Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers from their seats. Since December last year, the KMT and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) passed three controversial bills to paralyze the Constitutional Court, alter budgetary allocations and make recalling elected officials more difficult by raising the threshold. The amendments aroused public concern and discontent, sparking calls to recall KMT legislators. After KMT and TPP legislators again
Taiwan faces complex challenges like other Asia-Pacific nations, including demographic decline, income inequality and climate change. In fact, its challenges might be even more pressing. The nation struggles with rising income inequality, declining birthrates and soaring housing costs while simultaneously navigating intensifying global competition among major powers. To remain competitive in the global talent market, Taiwan has been working to create a more welcoming environment and legal framework for foreign professionals. One of the most significant steps in this direction was the enactment of the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals (外國專業人才延攬及僱用法) in 2018. Subsequent amendments in
US President Donald Trump on Saturday signed orders to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China effective from today. Trump decided to slap 25 percent tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada as well as 10 percent on those coming from China, but would only impose a 10 percent tariff on Canadian energy products, including oil and electricity. Canada and Mexico on Sunday quickly responded with retaliatory tariffs against the US, while countermeasures from China are expected soon. Nevertheless, Trump announced yesterday to delay tariffs on Mexico and Canada for a month and said he would hold further talks with
Taiwan’s undersea cables connecting it to the world were allegedly severed several times by a Chinese ship registered under a flag of convenience. As the vessel sailed, it used several different automatic identification systems (AIS) to create fake routes. That type of “shadow fleet” and “gray zone” tactics could create a security crisis in Taiwan and warrants response measures. The concept of a shadow fleet originates from the research of Elisabeth Braw, senior fellow at the Washington-based Atlantic Council. The phenomenon was initiated by authoritarian countries such as Iran, North Korea and Russia, which have been hit by international economic
RSS