19 JULY 2023
There is a lot of incentive for couples to seek a surrogate from a low-to-medium income country. Recent bans in these targeted countries are not stopping the trade, but just forcing vulnerable women to cross borders for medical treatment. Surrogacy expert Dr Ju Attawet has studied the industry for years and is available for comment.
As appeared in 360: https://360info.org/ban-wont-stop-transnational-surrogacy/
Dr Ju Attawet, Lecturer in Nursing and surrogacy expert, Charles Darwin University
Contact details: +61 8 8946 6529 or email us at media@cdu.edu.au to arrange an interview.
The following quotes can be attributed to Dr Attawet:
“Women are forced to cross borders to be part of a surrogacy, and often this is to countries with poor health care and support.”
“There are many reasons why couples will use a surrogate in another country, but for the surrogate its often because they desperately need the money.”
“We have seen in the past that without the right support, surrogacy can be a disastrous experience that can contribute to psychological health and wellbeing.”
“Increased regulations and support, instead of outright banning commercial surrogacy locally, could stop the cross-border trade.”
“Protecting women is the role of both governments and NGOs, and an outright ban does little to protect anyone except those agencies that can profit for desperate people by exploiting them further.”
Contact details:
Emily Bostock
Acting Research Communications Officer
T: +61 8 8946 6529
M: 0432 417 518
E: media@cdu.edu.au
