Perfecting Adoption? Reflections on the Rise of Commercial Offshore Surrogacy and Family Formation in Australia
Cuthbert, D., & Fronek, P. (2014). Perfecting adoption? Reflections on the rise of commercial offshore surrogacy and family formation in Australia. In A. Hayes & D. Higgins (Eds.), Families, policy and the law: Selected essays on contemporary issues for Australia (pp. 55-66)
Posted: 3 Jul 2014
Date Written: 2014
Abstract
Current indications are that increasing numbers of Australians are moving to commercial offshore surrogacy arrangements — in places including India and Thailand — to satisfy their desire to become parents. This is in line with international trends (Rotabi & Bromfield, 2012). This new phenomenon raises issues of concern to researchers, particularly related to the position of women who act as surrogate mothers (Bailey, 2011; Crozier & Martin, 2012; Deonandan, Green, & van Beinum, 2012). It also raises practice issues for professionals such as lawyers and social workers that are yet to be fully charted. In this chapter, we draw on our experience and perspectives as researchers in the field of adoption, focusing on intercountry adoption, to reflect on the rise of commercial offshore surrogacy as a mode of family formation.
Keywords: surrogacy, commercial overseas surrogacy, cross-border surrogacy, intercountry adoption
JEL Classification: I00
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation