The Nuffield Council on Bioethics (NCOB) has published a surrogacy briefing note that summarises practical, legal, and ethical considerations to support informed debate on how surrogacy should be regulated, the legal parentage of children born via surrogacy, compensation for surrogates and issues arising in international surrogacy.
The Law Commission of England and Wales, and the Scottish Law Commission are currently putting forward proposals for new surrogacy laws. After a wide-ranging review, they are planning on publishing a final report alongside a draft Bill on 29 March 2023.
The NCOB suggests that there is a need for law reform, to help address some of the ethical, as well as practical and legal, issues that arise.
They suggest it will be important to take into account the emerging evidence, experiences and views of UK surrogates and families created through surrogacy in the UK, but also to be aware of the limitations of this evidence and voices that might currently be missing.
The key ethical issues that the NCOB advise need to also be considered, include the need to enable and respect surrogates' autonomy throughout the surrogacy process; safeguarding the health and well-being of all parties.
Read the policy briefing at Surrogacy law in the UK: ethical considerations
