Surrogacy is Morally Wrong Essay -- Surrogacy Is Immoral

In this paper, I argue that if the debate about the morality of surrogacy is couched in terms of respect due to other human beings and the paramount splendour of their intimate relationships with one another, then it may be shown that most ordinary instances of surrogacy are morally wrong. Human flourishing cannot be separated from ones relationships with others and any circumstance which is destructive of such relationships must be considered immoral. The surrogate, unless she is treated as an object or merely as a means to an end, is intimately involved in the relationships between the child and its putative parents and important relationships become ambiguous and so harmed. Furthermore, if this view if rejected, then the feminist argument that surrogacy always involves the victimization of the surrogate renders it immoral. The debate about surrogacy revolves around the following issues (a) whether it is in the interests of the child involved or in the interests of society or (b ) whether it is exploitative of the birth drive or in the interests of women, as a whole. In considering the issues under (a) it is often argued that children are at risk of harm from having socially constructed family relationships rather than natural ones. galore(postnominal) commentators have likened the experience of children and birth mothers in surrogacy arrangements to children and relinquishing mothers in adoption, and point to the potential psychological and social harm that may result. (1) One argument against surrogacy thus revolves around the relationships which are involved. Although talk of interests seems to couch the debate in utilitarian terms (2) it is not the only way in which the arguments about surrogacy may be seen. Another way of seei... ...s the potential for depersonalisation strong, quoting the case of a woman who said of her sister (in an a case of altruistic surrogacy), We are just utilize Jacki as a suitcase really, an incubator to carry it. At the end of the day its our child. Rowland, R. Op. Cit., 164(17) Ibid., 164-166(18) Szikla, C. Surrogacy, Why Women Lose,http//www.readings.com.au8080/wise/RT2.htm, 3-6(19) Another radical is to say that this dichotomy does not hold and that there is nothing wrong with a mnage trois (or quatre, if both sperm and ovum are donated). This solution, however, changes our conceptions of marriage and radically alters the context in which the problem is being discussed in this paper.(20) See Mitchell, J.D. In Vitro fertilisation The Major Issues - A Comment, Journal of Medical Ethics, Vol. 9, 1983, 196-199, who makes a corresponding point.