SURROGATE PARENTHOOD

As discussed in Tong, assisted-reproduction technologies – like all technologies – are neither entirely beneficial nor entirely harmful. When used properly and realistically, they can provide infertile couples with a child they could not otherwise have. Surrogacy can be viewed in much the same way.

Nevertheless, the reasons behind the creation of these technologies, as well as the reasons for the need for surrogate arrangements, indicate that there are underlying issues that might need to be equally researched and addressed, such as the myriad of potential causes of infertility, changes to the traditional notions and structure of family and relationships, shifts in cultural and societal norms, etc.

With all that in mind, address the following in your first post:

Is parenthood a right? Support your position maintaining an academic focus.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of surrogate motherhood arrangements for non-traditional relationships and marriages (gays, lesbians, single women, single men).

Remember to cite your sources appropriately, using APA formatopens in a new window.

Please respond to at least two of your classmates after making your initial post.

Questions adapted from Tong, R. (2007). New Perspectives in Healthcare Ethics: An Interdisciplinary and Crosscultural Approach. Pearson Prentice Hall.

Note: Please make sure you focus on the course and the issues at hand when posting to the discussions. Connect your discussion posts to the literature we are reading, and maintain an academic focus. Relevance, credibility and using referenced material is always important whether in discussion or writing essays. We will be discussing some issues which are polarizing; I expect scholarly discourse and reference to the issues. I expect proper grammar and spelling. This is a minimum requirement. Deviations from this will hurt your grade. I also expect courtesy in discussion. Scholars disagree with each other all the time, and do it politely and with respect. It is better to lean excessively in the direction of courtesy than to have any chance at crossing the line of acceptable discourse.