1 February 2012
A San Diego hospital chain is reported to be seeking to claim back hundreds of thousands of dollars from the ringleader of what US prosecutors alleged was an illegal “baby-selling ring”. The ringleader, who pleaded guilty to wire fraud last August, is due to be sentenced this month and could face up to five years in prison. The hospital claims it lost money on the care and delivery costs of seven children born as a result of the illegal actions of the professionals involved.
This US surrogacy scandal, which sent shock waves through the international assisted reproduction and surrogacy sector, stands as a continued reminder of the problems and pitfalls that can arise. International surrogacy raises many complex legal issues and can become a minefield for the unwitting.
