CARMEN
DNA tests give foreigner hope for baby custody
PASARA PUTHAMAT
SPECIAL TO THE NATION


Gordon Lake

BANGKOK: -- A GAY foreigner embroiled in a battle for custody of a baby believes his chance of taking his daughter, who was born through paid surrogacy, back to their family in Spain is brighter after the egg donor came forward.

A paternity test on Gordon Alan "Bud" Lake III, his daughter "Carmen" and the egg donor determined that the three were related with near-100-per-cent accuracy. "The egg donor is even willing to attend the interviews with me at the Child Protection Agency, which are requested as part of the motion filed to have full parental rights recognised," the American said.

He has already decided to take the Carmen case to court in a bid to be granted full parental rights.

Following the birth of Carmen, he has had to spend the past seven months in Thailand because the Thai surrogate is refusing to sign papers needed for Carmen's departure even though she has already allowed him to take care of the girl. She became uncooperative after finding out that he is married to a man, Luke said. "We tried to contact her. We were told her legal adviser was very unresponsive and did not want to meet," he said.

The woman claims she might be Carmen's biological mother and now wants to raise the girl herself. To physically prove that she is not the biological mother, Lake contacted the egg donor and requested the DNA test.

The donor, a Thai woman, had no clue she was the biological mother of Carmen but was very cooperative.

"Obviously it is no surprise to us, but the result was positive that the egg donor is the biological mother. Maybe now they will stop saying that they think the Thai surrogate is the biological mother. It is really sad that they can't just try to support their side with facts," he said.

The donor would like to remain anonymous, he said.

The family filed a petition in the court, seeking to be recognised as the parents commissioning the surrogacy under Section 56 of the new surrogacy law. The new Thai surrogacy law states that the sperm donor and the egg donor hold parental rights, which will be positive for the father.

But as Carmen was born under the old surrogacy law, her case must be considered under that law, which states that custody of the child must belong to the birth mother. The court hearing was set for next month.

Armed with evidence that the woman was a gestational surrogate and not the biological mother, and for the best care and interest of the child, Lake hopes that finally he will be allowed to take his girl home. He also hopes the Social Development and Human Protection Ministry and the Children and Youth Department would help his case.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/DNA-tests-give-foreigner-hope-for-baby-custody-30268087.html


-- The Nation 2015-09-04

Sick situation all around.

Selling kids/eggs etc. I do not agree with any of it.

Bizarre if it is actually true that the lady who gave birth actually did not understand it was not her egg. That seems so basic. Was there any screening and counseling beforehand?

Sick situation all around.

Selling kids/eggs etc. I do not agree with any of it.

You choose to put is so crassly but surrogacy is perfectly legal in some countries, including the USA.

According to the Archaic Thai law the Mother is the woman who gave birth to the child, whatever DNA she may have.

According to the Archaic Thai law the Mother is the woman who gave birth to the child, whatever DNA she may have.

The whole situation is sick. If they want a child then find a volunteer woman and have sex. This baby commerce is disgusting. And why didn't this egg woman have the child in the first place. Is she an egg seller? Completely sick people. And I pity this child who has to grow up with two men. Abnormal.

According to the Archaic Thai law the Mother is the woman who gave birth to the child, whatever DNA she may have.

That's the OLD law it was changed recently and will be archaic again in approximately 30 years!

Why write the word Gay in capital letters?

Bizarre if it is actually true that the lady who gave birth actually did not understand it was not her egg. That seems so basic. Was there any screening and counseling beforehand?

Agree ... but they can only explain the procedure to her, not understand it for her ...

Could you imagine if the egg donor decided that she wants to take care of her child as she is the bilogical mother

Could you imagine if the egg donor decided that she wants to take care of her child as she is the bilogical mother

Highly unlikely.

Could you imagine if the egg donor decided that she wants to take care of her child as she is the bilogical mother

Highly unlikely.

nothing in Thailand is highly unlikely

Could you imagine if the egg donor decided that she wants to take care of her child as she is the bilogical mother

Highly unlikely.

nothing in Thailand is highly unlikely

Democracy?