Four Thai fertility clinics linked to cross-border surrogate racket

[webfact]

Four Thai fertility clinics linked to cross-border surrogate racket

By Kamthorn Kongsombat
The Nation

 

 

BANGKOK: -- At least four unnamed fertility clinics in Thailand are believed to be linked to a cross-border network of surrogate mother-for-hire services, according to Thai customs and public health authorities.

 

Nimit Saeng-ampai, chief of the Nong Khai customs checkpoint, where six Thai suspects were detained on Saturday after returning from Laos, said the Public Health Ministry would follow up on this case.

 

Multiple tubes taken from the suspects and their driver would have to be tested in the laboratory to see if they contain any genetic materials for use in the assisted reproduction process, he said.

 

Nimit said Nikom Simarat, who drove the six Thai suspects across the border to a Laotian fertility clinic, would face an additional criminal charge if traces of genetic materials were found in the containers, as such smuggling would violate Thai law.

 

According to Thai authorities, Thai fertility clinics are believed to have cooperated with counterparts in Laos and Cambodia to provide cross-border surrogacy services in which Thai women would be hired as surrogate mothers by foreigners, especially Chinese. 

 

These women, who are married and already have their own children, would be impregnated and paid a fee of Bt100,000-400,000 each once the babies are born.

 

Since the Thai law against surrogacy-for-hire services is strictly enforced, the network and their clients have to smuggle surrogate mothers into neighbouring countries for the assisted reproduction techniques. Afterwards, the surrogate mothers return to Thailand and, after nine months, go abroad again to deliver the babies.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30315972

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-05-23

[wakeupplease]

Just another income for the country, Farangs pay it on the border runs every 90 days or by the Elite card, no local hospital involved and with no Morales around whats the problem

[dcnx]

I don't see a problem with any of this. If someone has to pay another to carry a baby, that should be between them.

 

There a million worse things happening here than willing women carrying children for money. 

[dcnx]

On second thought, if the Thai gov and local poo yais could find a way to game the business and profit from it, screwing the women over in the process, then it would be legal.

 

 

[Classic Ray]

It doesn't really matter if this service is morally wrong or not, it's illegal and therefore not allowed, until the law is changed. Cannot complain when a law is enforced in Thailand when we usually complain about lack of enforcement.

[lamecn]

In the malls in Bangkok it seems legal and I believe they even pay tax on the business.