Surrogacy in the USA: A New Look at
Ethical and Financial Choices
Co-sponsors
When...
The seminar will take place May 2, 2012.
18:30 - 19:30: Reception and refreshments for Swedish surrogacy parents, their children, and parents-to-be.
19:30 - 21:00: Presentation and discussion.
18:30 - 19:30: Reception and refreshments for Swedish surrogacy parents, their children, and parents-to-be.
19:30 - 21:00: Presentation and discussion.
Due to legal restrictions at home, Swedish and other European people who cannot have children naturally often turn to various surrogacy and egg donation arrangements abroad. However many have expressed concerns about both ethical and safety issues, especially when they consider the least expensive solutions. This seminar will present options for more affordable surrogacy programs in the USA that do not compromise safety, high success rates, or high ethical standards. The seminar is organized in cooperation with FSS (Föreningen för surrogatmödraskap), the Swedish association working to spread information about Surrogacy (Surrogat.nu).
You will have the opportunity to learn from leading medical and legal experts, and to hear from Swedish parents, an American surrogate and an egg donor. The people you will meet have all navigated or helped others to navigate American surrogacy journeys that went far beyond simple transactions or deals. Indeed besides ensuring world-class medical care, they help foster personal connections and meaningful relationships between the family that is being created and the families of those “helpers” who are part of achieving that goal.
Sharing information is the essential first step toward empowering prospective parents to take control of their family-building journey and to ensure optimal decision-making regarding finances and ethics. Rather than providing just one set of rules, the seminar will explore a variety of specific strategies and approaches that address three major areas of concern: costs, safety and ethics.
You will have the opportunity to learn from leading medical and legal experts, and to hear from Swedish parents, an American surrogate and an egg donor. The people you will meet have all navigated or helped others to navigate American surrogacy journeys that went far beyond simple transactions or deals. Indeed besides ensuring world-class medical care, they help foster personal connections and meaningful relationships between the family that is being created and the families of those “helpers” who are part of achieving that goal.
Sharing information is the essential first step toward empowering prospective parents to take control of their family-building journey and to ensure optimal decision-making regarding finances and ethics. Rather than providing just one set of rules, the seminar will explore a variety of specific strategies and approaches that address three major areas of concern: costs, safety and ethics.
The following affordability and safety issues will be considered:
- Steps necessary to make the process legally secure, smooth and with high certainty.
- New programs that reduce the costs of additional cycles, if needed, without purchasing an expensive "guarantee" option.
- How the process can be more successful and affordable with the use of the clinic's local pre-screened egg donors and with the availability of supplemental frozen eggs.
- Steps to reduce the costs and length of the process so you may be able to return back to Sweden in as little as two weeks after the birth.
These ethical practice issues will also be explored:
- Possible steps to make sure all parties, including the surrogate and egg donor, are fully protected and informed of the choices they make.
- Steps being taken in the USA to minimize medical risks for the surrogate, donor and future children.
- Steps you can take to enhance the relationship between the parties using technology (like Skype) and well planned visits.
- The use of known egg donors and the benefits to all involved.
- Additional steps you can take to fully consider the long term well being of the surrogacy children.
Guest speakers will include:
Michael Doyle, M.D.
Dr. Doyle Doyle is the founder and medical director of CT Fertility Associates, which he started in 1991 after completing his advanced fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology at Yale University. Prior to that he received his undergraduate degree from Brown University; his medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco; and his residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Over 4,500 babies have been born to parents who have been successfully treated by Dr. Doyle, including hundreds for international families who consistently praise him as a highly skilled expert who balances great technical expertise with a highly caring, hands-on and flexible approach.
Dr. Doyle has authored numerous articles, research papers and book chapters, he is a frequent speaker at medical meetings and conferences, and act as the resident expert on prominent community and professional portals including Fertility Authority, Family Equality Council, Proud Parenting, Surromoms Online, and the Center Families. In 2009 the outstanding results of hid Frozen Donor Egg Bank were featured to an international audience at the ESHRE conference in Amsterdam.
Steven H. Snyder, Esq.
Steven Snyder is the founding and principal partner of Steven H. Snyder & Associates, Attorneys At Law and the International Assisted Reproduction Center (IARC) in Minnesota. Mr. Snyder attended law school at the University of Minnesota, graduating cum laude in 1982.
Mr. Snyder successfully litigated the first and only contested Minnesota surrogacy case to date in 2006 in which he won sole custody of the child for a single gay father.
He is a member of the American Bar Association (ABA), Chair of the Reproductive & Genetic Technology Committee of the Family Law Section of the ABA, ABA liaison to the National Coalition for the oversight of Assisted Reproductive Technology, Chair of the Minnesota State Bar Association Family Law Section, and a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.
Mr. Snyder also serves on the national legal advisory committee of RESOLVE: The National Fertility Association, is chair of the legal advisory group for the American Fertility Association (for education, support, and advocacy on behalf of infertile persons), and is a member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (national organization of fertility physicians).
Charity Lovas
Charity is a Minnesota mother of three who over ten years helped create four families besides her own! Her husband and her first heard about surrogacy about 12 years ago, and were immediately intrigued. After she carried the first baby for an infertile couple in Belgium, they were so moved by the experience that they did not hesitate when an opportunity came to help another couple. All together Charity carried five babies for parents from the USA, Belgium and Israel, as both a gestational and traditional surrogate. The last surrogacy baby she carries was born just recently, in March 2012, and Charity has finally decided that this was her last pregnancy. Her children, the oldest is now 18, have been very supportive throughout the years, and met all the babies and happy parents she helped. Charity, who's maiden name is Olson, is of Norwegian and Swedish ancestry, and is very excited to have the opportunity to meet prospective Swedish parents this May. You can read a 2008 article written about her in an American newspaper at this link.
Shantai Rivera
Shantai is a Connecticut mother of two who donated eggs for two infertile couples who had children through surrogacy. The first couple, to who she donated anonymously, had twins who are now 9 years old. The other couple she helped, with whom she is still in touch, had a girl who is now 7 years old. Shantai herself has been working in the fields of Reproductive Medicine, Egg Donation and Gestational Surrogacy since 1999 and presently serves as CT Fertility's Egg Donor / Surrogacy Program Coordinator. She finds that her personal experience has greatly contributed to her ability to compassionately and effectively perform her duties including egg donor screening and support, and the coordination of IVF/Surrogacy cycles for both local and international families.
About Föreningen för surrogatmödraskap (FFS / Surrogat.nu)
About the International Assisted Reproduction Center (IARC)
About CT Fertility
