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Clinical, Legal and ethical aspects of surrogacy motherhood program in Greece

Ioannis Giakoumakis

 In the four decades, an increasing number of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) have been developed, some of them already being used in clinical practice, while others will probably remain purely theoretical (in some countries) due to their associated ethical issues. Surrogacy is on the most controversial treatments which refers to a contract in which a woman carries a pregnancy “for” another couple or single lady. Greek Law allows surrogacy treatment as an ART and since 2014 the Greek Legislation allows foreign intended parents. Usually the reasons that a woman cannot become pregnant or carry out a pregnancy relates to the female reproductive system. The cοmbination of patients, lawyers, clinicians and scientists with the added element of poor psychology creates the need for “surgical” actions to be performed during a Surrogacy program. Our study focused on the medical reasons patients present for Surrogacy, legal issues that arise during a Surrogacy program and the ethical dilemas patients incur before entering the program as well as during the program We found after five years of referals that the medical reasons patients (intended parents) a Surrogacy program for anatomical abnormalities of the genital system as Rokitansky syndrome, partial or total hysterectomy after complications in pregnancy or childbirth, or removal due precancerous or cancerous situations are some of the reasons. Lately, several failed IVF attempts can also be considered as a significant reason to opt for Surrogacy. The most common legal issues are found in cross-border intended parents. This is due to legal obstacles that are present in their country which might not allow them to take their baby home as registered parents. The ethical concerns that affect patients mostly were found to be changing to donor gametes due to failed IVF attempts. Overall, we observed that a multidisciplinary team is required to inform patients prior to entering a Surrogacy program. Further more, an international consensus should be held to establish guidelines to help patients with all aspects of a Surrogacy program