Surrogacy: this morning I got a call from a potential client asking if I had any “Altruistic” surrogates, as she continued, I became more and more confused as to what she really meant??
After five or so minutes, I had to interject, and ask her if she fully understood what a Surrogate would go through for her, and what altruistic really meant?? She answered me very puzzled, and said, “Yes, well I think I do……..she’s going to carry our baby, and would give said baby to us at the end.”
I agreed that both of those statements were true, but more importantly she would care for this baby, treating it as if it were her own, attend medical appointments on your behalf, she would eat well, caring for herself, and the baby, taking away from her family, to ensure that you are able to build yours.
I then quickly looked up Altruistic on www.dictionary.com Something that I hadn’t done in a while, and as I read through the definition, and it hit me, Altruistic Surrogacy, has been confused with Free Surrogacy. When I read the definition, never did it say act for another for free.
In Canada, we are limited by the AHRA, and how a surrogate can receive reimbursement, however I believe that reimbursement, vs. payment has somehow gotten confused with Altrusitic vs Commercial surrogacy. I don’t believe that giving Money the power to turn something from Altruistic, to into something Egoistic is even a conversation that as Canadians we should be having.
This morning I was reminded of something that I had forgotten. Money is just an energy exchange, it holds no power.
al·tru·is·tic
/ˌæltruˈɪstɪk/ Show Spelled [al-troo-is-tik] Show IPA
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