"Walker and van Zyl (both, philosophy, Univ. of Waikato, NZ) have written a truly original and bold work. ... Written in a clear, easy style, this volume is accessible to all readers, whatever their background knowledge of the issue. The book will be of particular interest to those in bioethics, law, policy, and medicine, and of course those involved in professions that deal with issues surrounding fertility. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers." (J. McBain, Choice, Vol. 55 (6), February, 2018)
Preface.- Chapter 1: Three models of surrogacy.- Chapter 2: Exploitation and commodification.- Chapter 3: Altruism and generosity.- Chapter 4: Trustworthiness and care.- Chapter 5: Law and regulation.- Chapter 6: The professions and professional ethics.- Chapter 7: Hard cases.- Conclusion.
Dr Ruth Walker is a Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand. Her research areas are in bioethics and social science research ethics.
Dr Liezl van Zyl is a Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand. Her research areas are virtue ethics and bioethics.
This book delves deeply into modern surrogacy arrangements, responding to both practical and ethical critiques by offering a radically new model for surrogate motherhood. Current practice distinguishes between two models of surrogacy – the altruistic (unpaid) model and the commercial (paid) model, both of which present social, ethical, and conceptual challenges. This book proposes a novel arrangement for surrogate motherhood – the professional model. Inspired by professions, such as nursing, teaching, and social work, the professional model acknowledges the caring motives that surrogate mothers have while at the same time compensating them for their work. Walker and Van Zyl adopt an evidence-based approach to explain that the professional model enables trust between intended parents and surrogates, provides professional support at every stage of the relationship, affords legal protections against exploitation and commodification, and recognizes the rights and interests of all parties, including the intended baby. The model applies to both transnational and domestic surrogacy and will be of great interest to policy makers, social researchers, bioethicists, legal scholars, fertility professionals, clinicians, and graduate students in psychology, philosophy, medicine and ethics.