[SURROGACY - ITS MEDICAL, LEGAL AND ETHICAL ASPECTS]

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Law and Ethics
• Social Sciences

Background:

• Israeli surrogacy act of July 2018 excluded gay men from surrogacy.
• This exclusion caused public and media outcry due to financial and social implications.
• The law's religious elements prevent specific populations, like gay men, from fatherhood via surrogacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review literature on the social aspects of surrogacy.
• To analyze the impact of the new Israeli surrogacy legislation on gay men.
• To highlight the discriminatory nature of the law based on sexual orientation.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on social and ethical dimensions of surrogacy.
• Analysis of the Israeli surrogacy act and its societal context.
• Examination of existing research on surrogate pregnancy experiences.

Main Results:

• Surrogate mothers are generally not negatively affected physically or mentally.
• Findings may not apply to surrogates in developing nations motivated by financial gain.
• The Israeli law, influenced by religious tenets, creates barriers for gay men seeking to become fathers.

Conclusions:

• The Israeli surrogacy act raises significant ethical and social concerns.
• The legislation discriminates against gay men by denying them surrogacy options.
• Further societal and legal discourse is needed regarding equitable access to assisted reproductive technologies.