What to know about a surrogacy dispute between a California couple, their surrogate and Texas courts
Summary
A legal dispute has arisen between a California couple and their surrogate from Alaska over care for a newborn with a serious heart defect. The surrogate gave birth in Texas, where officials and courts have ordered hospitals to provide life-saving treatment for the baby, despite the couple’s wish to terminate the pregnancy earlier.Key Facts
- The surrogate, McKenna West, gave birth to a baby boy with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (a severe heart condition) in Texas.
- The California couple, Omar Ahmed and Nausheen Gilkar, say West breached their surrogacy contract and have a restraining order keeping her from contacting the baby.
- The couple wanted to end the pregnancy at 20 weeks after the heart defect diagnosis, but West changed her mind.
- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton intervened to ensure the baby receives life-sustaining care at Texas hospitals.
- West and her supporters, including anti-abortion groups, moved the birth to Texas, a state with strict abortion laws.
- The baby’s medical care will begin in Texas despite the couple’s preference for treatment in California.
- The surrogate’s legal team includes the conservative Christian group Alliance Defending Freedom.
- The case highlights conflicts over surrogacy agreements, medical decisions, and the influence of state abortion laws.
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