Paid-for surrogacy

Jennifer

So I think in the US surrogates can be paid any amount of money, but I'm not sure. In the UK however (and I think in other European countries) you can only be paid "reasonable expenses" this is about £15,000 on average I believe in the UK. One of the arguments for this is that it stops people taking advantage of people in difficult financial situations (as in they could be pressured to be a surrogate because they need the money, not because they want to be a surrogate). Surrogacy contracts also don't appear to be legally binding, more of a written agreement. If the surrogate doesn't want to give up the baby she doesn't have to.

So my question is do you think surrogates should just get reasonable expenses, or any amount that both parties agree to? As a bonus question do you believe surrogates should get rights to the baby by default, or should the birth rights go straight to the intended parents.

I personally think there should be a cap to the price of surrogacy (to protect both potential surrogates and the intended parents) but it should be a lot higher than £15k and that the intended parents should get the rights automatically once the baby is born (again to protect both parties, so nobody can back out).

*I left a poll option for people who don't agree with surrogacy, as I know a few people with that opinion*

Vote below to see results!