As a person interested in the development of surrogacy and fertility law I keep an eye on items of news/press/information posted on the internet and social media.
Each day as I scroll through these updates I see that more and more relate to celebrity news articles. Their lives are scrutinised by the press and speculation on their personal lives a regular theme. When news of pregnancy does not follow shortly after a wedding or an announcement that they are trying it seems ever more common to question whether surrogacy is being considered.
So does this mean that surrogacy is becoming a better known and more accepted method of creating a family generally, or is it just within confines of, what often seems to be, the rather wealthy and abstract world of celebrity? My hope is that this kind of news story raises awareness of the options that are available to all families who may struggle to create a family and that this will result in more support being given to couples in this situation.
It also raises the question of whether surrogacy is an option more available to those with money than those who have not? Are alternative families or families with fertility issues prejudiced if they have limited resources? It appears this may well be the case. There is no provision for surrogacy on the NHS. There is gradual and, no doubt, devastating withdrawal of fertility treatment throughout our regional health providers as recently seen here in Mid-Essex. More and more families have to save, take on loans/debts or face the prospect that they may not be able to have children.
I will continue to blog and tweet on campaigns and news stories as they arise.