A cross-country legal dispute between the biological parents of a newborn boy and the woman who carried him as a surrogate has placed the infant at the center of a politically charged court case. The baby, referred to as ‘Baby Gabriel’ by pro-life advocates, was born in a Dallas hospital with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a life-threatening condition.
Background of the Case
The legal battle began after the unborn child was diagnosed with the condition, and the biological parents, who live in Los Angeles, wanted to terminate the pregnancy. However, the surrogate, McKenna West, decided to carry the baby to term and gave birth to him in Texas.
West, who lives in Alaska, said she decided to risk the financial fallout of breaking the surrogacy contract and went to Texas to have the baby. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton obtained a court order stating that the baby would receive medically indicated stabilizing and life-sustaining care after birth.
The biological parents’ attorney, Lee Budner, said that the parents have full legal custody of the child and are prioritizing the baby’s health and well-being. However, the case has sparked a heated debate about parental rights and the role of the state in protecting the life of the unborn child.
Original reporting: Brookhaven News – ABC7 New York — read the source article.
