Australia's surrogacy relief call a bit rich

This report brought out two questions: what to do with 200 pending surrogacy cases caused by the Australians, and in the future should commercial surrogacy be legally forbidden?

First, with 200 Australians possibly breaking the law on Thai turf and immorally “renting” Thai wombs, Australia’s official, Peter Varghese, has now asked for leniency from Thailand to turn a blind eye to those cases “for the best interests of the babies”. He conveniently did not mention, “For the interests of those 200 childless Australian couples to escape penalties.” In Australia, commercial surrogacy is a criminal offence and foreigners are not allowed access to surrogacy. Yet, Tony Abbott and others were so high and mighty in criticising our coup in May. 

Second, it is interesting that the Medical Council’s president, Somsak Lolekha, supports surrogacy services to help childless couples if it is performed under the Council’s regulations. I suggest Dr Somsak should do research on the ongoing situation on the Internet first before taking his stand on such a controversial issue with no right answer. Should he not ask his fellow doctors first?

There are two schools of thought: Technology triumphs over orthodoxy or children come as a gift of God via a sexual relationship instead of being procured as a product or thing. Both have their points but neither is conclusive. 

Songdej Praditsmanont

Bangkok