COURT RULING PUTS PARENTAL RIGHTS AT RISK: Anonymous Surrogacy Decision Sparks Debate
A UK High Court has warned against the risks of anonymous surrogacy after a Nigerian couple, Mr. and Mrs. Houldsworth, faced legal hurdles in securing parental rights for their child due to a lack of records identifying the surrogate mother.
The couple had opted for anonymous surrogacy through Lifelink Fertility Clinic in Lagos in 2022, aiming to avoid disputes with the surrogate.
However, when they applied for legal parental status in the UK, complications arose due to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008, which mandates informed consent from the birth mother.
Justice Andrew McFarlane, ruling on the case, noted that the absence of identifiable surrogate records created legal uncertainties.
While the court eventually granted the couple parental rights, McFarlane emphasized that anonymous surrogacy could lead to suspicions and legal challenges, especially in international cases.
The case comes amid increased scrutiny of international surrogacy and adoption, with the UK maintaining restrictions on adoptions from Nigeria due to concerns over documentation reliability and corruption.
Anonymous surrogacy arrangements allow for the intended parents and the surrogate to not know each other’s identities or to have limited direct contact.
