Australian couple in Thai baby scandal want boy back

PERTH, August 11, 2014 (AFP) - An Australian couple at the centre of a Thai surrogate scandal Sunday denied they deliberately abandoned their baby son because he had Down's syndrome and said they would fight to get him back.

David Farnell, 56, a convicted child sex offender and the biological father of the boy, Gammy, told Channel Nine he and his wife Wendy had "wanted to bring him with us".

It was their first interview since sparking global controversy after leaving the boy in Thailand with his 21-year-old Thai surrogate mother Pattaramon Chanbua and taking only his healthy twin sister Pipah back home.

"We never said you (Pattaramon) can have this baby, no matter what," said an emotional David Farnell.

The couple claimed Pattaramon wanted to keep the girl and said they left Thailand without Gammy because "we were getting scared that we would lose her too and we had to try and get her out".

The Farnells, from Bunbury south of Perth, Western Australia, previously claimed they were told Gammy had a congenital heart condition but not Down's syndrome, and left him because doctors said he would not survive.

Gammy, now seven months old, has since been cleared of a heart condition by Bangkok specialists, an Australian charity which has raised more than US$240,000 for the infant said on Friday.

The charity, Hands Across The Water, said the boy had been released from hospital -- where he was being treated for a lung infection -- and was living in Bangkok with his family.

- 'We never abandoned him' -

David Farnell claimed Pattharamon said: "If we try to take our little boy, she's going to get the police and she's going to come and take our little girl ... and she's going to keep both babies."

Pattaramon has said she agreed to carry another Thai donor's egg fertilised by the Australian man in exchange for around $14,900.

An agency, which she refuses to name for legal reasons, acted as the go-between.

She claims the agency told her the Farnells wanted her to have an abortion -- which is illegal in Thailand -- once medical tests revealed the boy had Down's syndrome, but she refused.

"We never abandoned him, we never said to the surrogate mother 'have an abortion'," said David Farnell, although he admitted it crossed their minds.

"Because he has a handicap and this is a sad thing. And it would be difficult, not impossible, but difficult."

Farnell also admitted the couple had not tried to contact Gammy since they left Thailand to check on how he was.

"We have been trying (in Australia) to make sure first that Pipah is safe and no one can take her away from us," he said, explaining that as she was born in Thailand she was not yet legally Australian.

"When we know 100 percent that she is safe with us, we can go and try to get our boy back."

Their comments came as Canberra urged Thailand to allow for a transition period before implementing any ban on commercial surrogacy to protect earlier arrangements made by Australians.

The Thai government is proposing tighter controls on commercial surrogacy in the wake of the Gammy scandal.

[afp]2014-08-11[/afp]

The way I understand it now, NONE of them deserve this beautiful baby.

Call me optimistic or whatever, but any genuine interested couple would of followed up on this baby boy, they were told he would only have days to,live ?? So why did they not contact the mother a ow while back for a status ???, also, if he has been convicted of child abuse , should he really be getting that child, he had that urge before , these things don't go away,

Is,it just me, but the Authorities have to think of the welfare of the baby.....

I hate to think what I might be reading in a couple of years time, I hope I am wrong, but who knows.


Yes it would be great if he was fine, but personally I would not like to take the chance....

Worth monitoring for sure...

Just my two cents worth....

No child needs to go through that...

Admittedly it was only a sound bite but the portion of the interview i saw with the couple was less than convincing complete with tears from the husband.

The reasons for leaving Thailand and the ' fight to get their son ' back sounded so hollow,  to say the least.

 

I'm not clear on Australian law so maybe some of the knowledgeable Aussie members can help but surely with the husband's ' previous ' he would not have been allowed to adopt there ?

 

 

If the kid was shown to have Downs syndrome through ultra sound (???) while still in the womb....abortion would have been the best option.  Yes, it's a tough call but you only have to look around to see how many disabled the people of Thailand have to care for now.

Convicted pedos should not be allowed to have children in any way, shape or form.  No adoption, fostering, surrogacy, natural means or by virgin birth!!!  1 of the many rights you should give up when you are convicted of the lowest form of crime.

Lying pieces of excrement.  They have had 7 months to try and get him out and did nothing until this story went international.  The are only saying that now because they have been exposed as the mongrels they are.

He lying:

 

1. He never knew the baby had Down's syndrome

2. He admitted that the idea of letting the mother have an abortion has crossed his mind.

 

Why would anyone, thinking that the baby didn't have Down's symdrome, think about having an abortion...

I am pretty sure they can't see the heart problem of the baby on the echo.

 

He's changing his story all the time, he's a liar and child molester.

For the safety of their child the Australian authorities should check if the healthy daughter should be really raised by him.

 

If the Australian law forbids Australian people to act as a surrogate mother for financial reasons,

why does the Australian law allows Australian people to travel to Thailand and do exactly the same thing there?

Are Thai people not human like them? Why do different rules have to apply for Thai surrogate mothers?

 

In my opinion the Australian authorities are to blame for the whole problem.

They treated Thai woman unfairly by applying different rules to them.

 

 

 

Edited August 11, 201411 yr by kriswillems

Lying pieces of excrement.  They have had 7 months to try and get him out and did nothing until this story went international.  The are only saying that now because they have been exposed as the mongrels they are.

 Excellent summary.  

Is it surprising now that the Aussie is identified a pedo that he is now the bad guy in the surrogacy issue? Separate the issues here people from the emotive which is the practice of surrogacy being allowed to be undertaken with no controls by the thai’s.

There is ‘he said, she said, they said’ changes of story here from all sides. Now we even have the Aussie government to blame...jeez.

Bottom line is the buck (how appropriate a money pun for Thailand) stops with the thai government. It is within Thailand that the practice has been poorly (pathetic would be more apt) managed, and allowed westerners to baby traffic with no official control to protect all parties interests. Bottom line also is if the practice was government managed then either the practice would not have unofficially got to the level of quantity and incompetence it did, or if managed correctly then for example pedo's would have been picked up via a cross government reference (which for those from western countries who have had involvement with Thai child support and welfare agencies know that you have to provide a police clearance from your own country so not difficult to do) as part of a managed system for the protection of all. Also then if anybody wished to challenge any part of the process it would be officially available on record as opposed to the ‘she said, they said’ constant claim and counter claiming that is going on here. The more this goes on it enforces just how badly thai authorities (government and health) have mismanaged the surrogacy process and allowed it to be no more than straight baby trafficking.

 

Lying pieces of excrement.  They have had 7 months to try and get him out and did nothing until this story went international.  The are only saying that now because they have been exposed as the mongrels they are.

 Excellent summary.  

Agree they definitely didn't give Gammy a 2nd thought until this story blew up in thier faces. Then it was lies and more lies to try and cover up thier act now a complete about turn to try and explain and cover up the original lies. He is a paedophile and who would take the word from such slime?

Why farangs don't understand that Thais want only money, money, they don't have any consideration for the child or the couple who adopts just trying to getmore money.

What a vile story this is. In fact, none of the adults come out of this whole fiasco without looking pretty dodgy. I also agree that convicted Nonces should not be allowed to adopt or have kids through this method. At the end of the day, there needs to be a very detailed look at the laws around this, so that such a fiasco cant happen again. 

 

I  need to take a shower, every-time I read about these scum. 

Is it surprising now that the Aussie is identified a pedo that he is now the bad guy in the surrogacy issue? Separate the issues here people from the emotive which is the practice of surrogacy being allowed to be undertaken with no controls by the thai’s.

 

There is ‘he said, she said, they said’ changes of story here from all sides. Now we even have the Aussie government to blame...jeez.

 

Bottom line is the buck (how appropriate a money pun for Thailand) stops with the thai government. It is within Thailand that the practice has been poorly (pathetic would be more apt) managed, and allowed westerners to baby traffic with no official control to protect all parties interests. Bottom line also is if the practice was government managed then either the practice would not have unofficially got to the level of quantity and incompetence it did, or if managed correctly then for example pedo's would have been picked up via a cross government reference (which for those from western countries who have had involvement with Thai child support and welfare agencies know that you have to provide a police clearance from your own country so not difficult to do) as part of a managed system for the protection of all. Also then if anybody wished to challenge any part of the process it would be officially available on record as opposed to the ‘she said, they said’ constant claim and counter claiming that is going on here. The more this goes on it enforces just how badly thai authorities (government and health) have mismanaged the surrogacy process and allowed it to be no more than straight baby trafficking.

 

 

 

Under Western Australia (where the couple reside) State law there is no check of criminal records for surrogacy parents.

Saw a short excerpt the the interview on BBC World (Junta still blocking Australia Network on True Bangkok).

Either the couple are lying, or else they are spinning the story so much that it's a 10-dimensional Mobius strip.

And the pervert claims that he is "no longer a danger to children" ..... hardly convincing from the mouth of a convicted repeat sex offender - I'd prefer he show a clinical assessment from a Govt-approved psychiatrist to substantiate his assertion. 

No way should they be allowed near any children.

 

Wont matter as the mother was proudly showing off her top of the line Samsung on Aussie TV the other day. She has seen a payday and has been spending up in anticipation. 

 

Hopefully the baby is pt with some decent people who will care for him

What a vile story this is. In fact, none of the adults come out of this whole fiasco without looking pretty dodgy. I also agree that convicted Nonces should not be allowed to adopt or have kids through this method. At the end of the day, there needs to be a very detailed look at the laws around this, so that such a fiasco cant happen again. 
 
I  need to take a shower, every-time I read about these scum. 

The Thai surrogate has stuck to her story, the paedophile has changed his more than he has changed his underwear. The Thai has far more credibility

 

Is it surprising now that the Aussie is identified a pedo that he is now the bad guy in the surrogacy issue? Separate the issues here people from the emotive which is the practice of surrogacy being allowed to be undertaken with no controls by the thai’s.

 

There is ‘he said, she said, they said’ changes of story here from all sides. Now we even have the Aussie government to blame...jeez.

 

Bottom line is the buck (how appropriate a money pun for Thailand) stops with the thai government. It is within Thailand that the practice has been poorly (pathetic would be more apt) managed, and allowed westerners to baby traffic with no official control to protect all parties interests. Bottom line also is if the practice was government managed then either the practice would not have unofficially got to the level of quantity and incompetence it did, or if managed correctly then for example pedo's would have been picked up via a cross government reference (which for those from western countries who have had involvement with Thai child support and welfare agencies know that you have to provide a police clearance from your own country so not difficult to do) as part of a managed system for the protection of all. Also then if anybody wished to challenge any part of the process it would be officially available on record as opposed to the ‘she said, they said’ constant claim and counter claiming that is going on here. The more this goes on it enforces just how badly thai authorities (government and health) have mismanaged the surrogacy process and allowed it to be no more than straight baby trafficking.

 

 

 

Under Western Australia (where the couple reside) State law there is no check of criminal records for surrogacy parents.

 

Thanks for the input.  Does this mean that in WA if someone turns up with ostensibly legal papers from somewhere else it's taken as read that all has been checked and is above board ?

 

They obviously don't know much about LoS

In western countries they are the legal parents of that child. Is he not an Aussie citizen? But I believe in Thailand legal rights rests with the womb mother as womb rental is illegal. So the thai mother should not have legal rights either...

Does Not the state intervene and take over rights and responsibility? In the west yes, in Thailand that is a scary thought....

Okay, who gets to keep the charity money? Take that out of the picture and I bet none of these players want to play the game.

the story changes

 

 

Is it surprising now that the Aussie is identified a pedo that he is now the bad guy in the surrogacy issue? Separate the issues here people from the emotive which is the practice of surrogacy being allowed to be undertaken with no controls by the thai’s.

 

There is ‘he said, she said, they said’ changes of story here from all sides. Now we even have the Aussie government to blame...jeez.

 

Bottom line is the buck (how appropriate a money pun for Thailand) stops with the thai government. It is within Thailand that the practice has been poorly (pathetic would be more apt) managed, and allowed westerners to baby traffic with no official control to protect all parties interests. Bottom line also is if the practice was government managed then either the practice would not have unofficially got to the level of quantity and incompetence it did, or if managed correctly then for example pedo's would have been picked up via a cross government reference (which for those from western countries who have had involvement with Thai child support and welfare agencies know that you have to provide a police clearance from your own country so not difficult to do) as part of a managed system for the protection of all. Also then if anybody wished to challenge any part of the process it would be officially available on record as opposed to the ‘she said, they said’ constant claim and counter claiming that is going on here. The more this goes on it enforces just how badly thai authorities (government and health) have mismanaged the surrogacy process and allowed it to be no more than straight baby trafficking.

 

 

 

Under Western Australia (where the couple reside) State law there is no check of criminal records for surrogacy parents.

 

Thanks for the input.  Does this mean that in WA if someone turns up with ostensibly legal papers from somewhere else it's taken as read that all has been checked and is above board ?

 

They obviously don't know much about LoS

 

 

don't know
 

Is it surprising now that the Aussie is identified a pedo that he is now the bad guy in the surrogacy issue? Separate the issues here people from the emotive which is the practice of surrogacy being allowed to be undertaken with no controls by the thai’s. [/size]
 
There is ‘he said, she said, they said’ changes of story here from all sides. Now we even have the Aussie government to blame...jeez.[/size]
 
Bottom line is the buck (how appropriate a money pun for Thailand) stops with the thai government. It is within Thailand that the practice has been poorly (pathetic would be more apt) managed, and allowed westerners to baby traffic with no official control to protect all parties interests. Bottom line also is if the practice was government managed then either the practice would not have unofficially got to the level of quantity and incompetence it did, or if managed correctly then for example pedo's would have been picked up via a cross government reference (which for those from western countries who have had involvement with Thai child support and welfare agencies know that you have to provide a police clearance from your own country so not difficult to do) as part of a managed system for the protection of all. Also then if anybody wished to challenge any part of the process it would be officially available on record as opposed to the ‘she said, they said’ constant claim and counter claiming that is going on here. The more this goes on it enforces just how badly thai authorities (government and health) have mismanaged the surrogacy process and allowed it to be no more than straight baby trafficking. [/size]

For all your rather far-fetched and hypothetical reaches in order to get your daily Thai bash in, you have overlooked the fact that the AUSTRALIAN government has urgently requested that the Thai government does not enact any urgently needed legislation THAT COULD AFFECT AUSTRALIAN SURROGACY'S THAT ARE ALREADY IN PLACE.

If the kid was shown to have Downs syndrome through ultra sound (???) while still in the womb....abortion would have been the best option.  Yes, it's a tough call but you only have to look around to see how many disabled the people of Thailand have to care for now.

Why abortion being a best option?

 

You should read this, as should many others. Downs syndrome is not such a handicap as many people who know little about it believe it is. In cases it involves health problems, but in general... well... you read.

 

http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/genetic/down_syndrome.html#

 

Oh! And if you don't want to read, 1 in 800 babies in the USA has downs!!! Abortion is never considered.

 

With 1 in 800 then statistically there must be a few with downs who post here.

 

 

Is it surprising now that the Aussie is identified a pedo that he is now the bad guy in the surrogacy issue? Separate the issues here people from the emotive which is the practice of surrogacy being allowed to be undertaken with no controls by the thai’s.

 

There is ‘he said, she said, they said’ changes of story here from all sides. Now we even have the Aussie government to blame...jeez.

 

Bottom line is the buck (how appropriate a money pun for Thailand) stops with the thai government. It is within Thailand that the practice has been poorly (pathetic would be more apt) managed, and allowed westerners to baby traffic with no official control to protect all parties interests. Bottom line also is if the practice was government managed then either the practice would not have unofficially got to the level of quantity and incompetence it did, or if managed correctly then for example pedo's would have been picked up via a cross government reference (which for those from western countries who have had involvement with Thai child support and welfare agencies know that you have to provide a police clearance from your own country so not difficult to do) as part of a managed system for the protection of all. Also then if anybody wished to challenge any part of the process it would be officially available on record as opposed to the ‘she said, they said’ constant claim and counter claiming that is going on here. The more this goes on it enforces just how badly thai authorities (government and health) have mismanaged the surrogacy process and allowed it to be no more than straight baby trafficking.

 

 

 

Under Western Australia (where the couple reside) State law there is no check of criminal records for surrogacy parents.

 

Thanks for the input.  Does this mean that in WA if someone turns up with ostensibly legal papers from somewhere else it's taken as read that all has been checked and is above board ?

 

They obviously don't know much about LoS

 

 

What on earth do the WA authorities have to know anything about LoS? If they are happy to let surrogacy go unregulated and unchecked AT HOME, why do they even need to worry about where the baby factory is?

 

This is about AUSTRALIANS trying to find the path of least resistance and the latest utterances from Canberra seem to imply that there's no urgency needed to address this totally odious practice.

 

Convicted pedos should not be allowed to have children in any way, shape or form.  No adoption, fostering, surrogacy, natural means or by virgin birth!!!  1 of the many rights you should give up when you are convicted of the lowest form of crime.

 

I am amazed that chemical castration is not used by judges.

 

If the kid was shown to have Downs syndrome through ultra sound (???) while still in the womb....abortion would have been the best option.  Yes, it's a tough call but you only have to look around to see how many disabled the people of Thailand have to care for now.

Why abortion being a best option?

 

You should read this, as should many others. Downs syndrome is not such a handicap as many people who know little about it believe it is. In cases it involves health problems, but in general... well... you read.

 

http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/genetic/down_syndrome.html#

 

Oh! And if you don't want to read, 1 in 800 babies in the USA has downs!!! Abortion is never considered.

 

With 1 in 800 then statistically there must be a few with downs who post here.

 

WHAT ! !     1 in 800 with Downs, or diminished mental capacities ?????

 

I will go out on a limb and state.....  TV members can beat that statistic any day, hands down ! !       

 

Convicted pedos should not be allowed to have children in any way, shape or form.  No adoption, fostering, surrogacy, natural means or by virgin birth!!!  1 of the many rights you should give up when you are convicted of the lowest form of crime.

 

I am amazed that chemical castration is not used by judges.

 

If only Chao, do you think it would kill the urge though?  Or would it be a case of the mind being willing but the body not able?  I prefer a bullet to sort it out.

 

If the kid was shown to have Downs syndrome through ultra sound (???) while still in the womb....abortion would have been the best option.  Yes, it's a tough call but you only have to look around to see how many disabled the people of Thailand have to care for now.

Why abortion being a best option?
 
You should read this, as should many others. Downs syndrome is not such a handicap as many people who know little about it believe it is. In cases it involves health problems, but in general... well... you read.
 
http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/genetic/down_syndrome.html#
 
Oh! And if you don't want to read, 1 in 800 babies in the USA has downs!!! Abortion is never considered.
 
With 1 in 800 then statistically there must be a few with downs who post here.
 

WHAT ! !     1 in 800 with Downs, or diminished mental capacities ?????
 
I will go out on a limb and state.....  TV members can beat that statistic any day, hands down ! !       

So says Gonzo

Convicted pedos should not be allowed to have children in any way, shape or form.  No adoption, fostering, surrogacy, natural means or by virgin birth!!!  1 of the many rights you should give up when you are convicted of the lowest form of crime.

 

Of course that's the case. No adoption agency would let a child molester adopt a baby. I assume that's why the couple sought a surrogate in Thailand.

 

This story keeps getting freakier... first the story of abandoned Gammy, then the Australian couples retort, then the Japanese guy with all the babies, then the new about the Australian father being a child molester, and now the back-and-forth between the surrogate mother and the Australian couple...  this is as freaky and tragic as it is entertaining to watch unfold.