Calling for Standardised Surrogacy Birth Care Policies: A Brief Report

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Healthcare Policy
• Maternity Care

Background:

• Surrogacy is a growing family-building option.
• Existing surrogacy birth care policies in Australian hospitals are inconsistent and underdeveloped.
• Lack of clear policies impacts healthcare professionals and surrogate experiences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the current state of surrogacy birth care policies in Australian hospitals.
• To identify the prevalence of specific policies addressing surrogacy in maternity care.

Main Methods:

• A random observational survey of metropolitan hospitals in New South Wales and Victoria, Australia.
• Review of hospital websites for existing policies.
• Follow-up inquiries via telephone and email to maternity wards.

Main Results:

• Only 10 out of 112 randomly contacted hospitals had documented surrogacy birth care policies.
• A significant gap exists in formalised policies for surrogacy care across Australian maternity services.

Conclusions:

• There is an urgent need for the development and implementation of comprehensive surrogacy birth care policies in Australian hospitals.
• Clear guidelines are essential for providing respectful care, defining healthcare roles, and improving surrogate birth experiences.