Sandy Areli Huerta

Professor Cassidy
Bioethics
February 16,2011

Surrogacy Mother? Mortal or Immortal?

In this paper, I will argue that in Melanie Thernstorm story is mortal and I see

nothing wrong with finding a surrogate mother to have her child. Unfortunately, in this

world not everyone is able to have children or have the capacity to hold a child in their

womb for nine months. A surrogate mother gives infertile couples the hope and the

chance to form a family. As a child we all grow up with the dream of having a family

becoming a parent. I do not see how having a surrogate mother is harmful, no one is

being killed, abandoned or simply mistreated. A surrogate mother gives happiness to a

family who is in desperate need of forming a family.

According Catholic religion, stem cells and abortion are a big “NO” when in

comes to the Catholic Church. So wouldn’t a surrogate mother be a positive choice, since

it encourages birth of a newborn to this world? I am not a strong advocate of abortion,

birth control, stem cells, or any type of destruction or harm of an embryo. I strongly

believe that every embryo has the right to be brought to this world and treated. Growing

up as a Catholic, I was taught not to use any type of birth control to prevent pregnancy.

Society, medicine, and religion never agree with each other. When we talk about

surrogate mothers many people argue that a surrogate mother is basically selling her own

child, since she has to carry the baby for nine months and give birth. A surrogate mother

acts as if she was carrying her own child by taking care of her self and eating healthy to

benefit the baby. The women who paid for the surrogate mother is only responsible for

paying the cost of the pregnancy and paying for the surrogate mother. Besides this I still
do not see the problem with why Melanie Thernstorm did an immortal thing by paying a

surrogate mother. For years Melanie has been trying to form a family, but many obstacles

have prevented her from being a mother. She is fortunate enough to be able to pay for a

surrogate mother who would carry her child. Melanie found the solution to her problem

and she now is happy with her decision. Many fertile families never get the chance to

experience what it is to be a mother because they do not have enough funds to pay for

expensive treatments or does not have the qualifications to adopt a child.

In conclusion, as medicine advances more and more treatments and medication

will develop that will help fertile parents have the ability to form a family and be happy.

Mortality and immortality is constantly questioned on whether or not it is mortal to have

a surrogate mother. A surrogate mother does not harm or kill anyone it actually brings

life to the world and happiness to an empty home. Like the Catholic Church states “ a

child has the right to be “conceived, carried in the womb, brought into the world, and

brought up within marriage,” (Kalbian, 241) and in Melanie case she is doing what the

bible said bringing a baby into a marriage where he or she will grow as an individual.