General
Hyderabad: In the wake of fertility frauds emerging in the city and the following inspections at all assisted reproductive treatment clinics, questions are being raised about whether a DNA test of the baby should be made mandatory after the surrogacy procedure is complete.
Most parents who approach ART centres for either IVF or surrogacy are concerned about the ownership of the child — whether the baby would be “biologically” theirs.
Doctors and officials are of the view that it is crucial to counsel patients at every step of the procedure, address any doubts that arise and strictly adhere to all legal requirements.
The ART (Regulation) Act, 2021 states that both commissioning parents and adopting parents must provide written consent for the procedure.
While a DNA test is not currently mandatory after the completion of a surrogacy, experts believe it might be necessary following the surrogacy scandal. “After these cases coming to light, it should be made mandatory. Couples already come with concerns regarding the ownership of the child. These cases aggravate their concerns and DNA tests should be made part of the legal process,” said Dr Vasundara Cheepurupalli, senior consultant gynaecologist.
While some experts believe it is necessary, others argue that it may create unnecessary fear and aversion to an already misunderstood process. “Those following due process will not feel the need for a DNA test. If everything is done ethically, these suspicions don’t arise at all. The law is quite thorough in ensuring the consent of all parties and transparency in the process,” said Dr Preethi Reddy, senior consultant, infertility.
Dr Preethi also pointed out that before mandating DNA tests, the law should first address what happens to the child in cases where parents refuse to accept them. “Like in the present fraud case, the child usually ends up with Child Welfare Committees. Our first priority should be to outline the rehabilitation of such children and ensure their overall welfare,” she added.