Legal and Ethical Challenges of Surrogacy Contracts Termination in Iranian Healthcare System

Background and Objectives: Surrogacy is a challenging method of infertility treatment. In ethical domain, the value and dignity of a woman should be maintained despite the manipulative nature of surrogacy practice. The absence of strict letter of the law on surrogacy contracts has posed legal and ethical challenges to Iranian juridical and medical system. The purpose of the present study was to shed some lights on the challenges surrounding surrogacy contract termination. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study utilized documentary method carried out through the assessment of books, articles, uniform judicial precedent votes, and valid judicial procedures. Results: Establishment and termination of surrogacy contract is legitimate and subjected to the public codes of contracts, according to article ۱۰ of civil law and Faqihs’ verdicts. The absence of any written and consistent law code has resulted in myriad of challenges in juridical and ethical domains of contracts. Surrogate mother's economic need and a huge number of child applicant couples create a situation for contractors abuse and commercialization of agreement. Surrogacy contract allows for both automatic and non-automatic termination. In this regard, the juridical and ethical challenges usually increase in the latter when the surrogate mother, genetic parents, or treatment center change their minds and decide to give up the practice. Conclusion: Technological innovations in medical science have opened up new horizons to human beings. Enactment of new law codes with ethical consideration can be an effective approach to infertility treatment through surrogacy and a powerful deterrent to ethical and juridical challenges arising from the termination of this kind of contract.  

Keywords:

Legal Challenges , Medical Ethics , Uterus , Surrogacy Contract , Juridical Procedure.