Paso por Paso en el Camino de la Reproducción Asistida

El gran número de técnicas de reproducción asistida, disponibles hoy en día para parejas e individuos, hace que éste se convierta en un camino lleno de preguntas e incertidumbres sobre cómo y por dónde iniciar el proceso de formar una familia. A continuación presentamos una guía abreviada de cada uno de los pasos a seguir. Por favor no dude en contactarnos para una consulta gratuita o para adquirir información adicional.

    I. Contacte nuestra oficina:

  • Hable con un abogado especializado en reproducción para determinar lo siguiente:
  • Las leyes y alternativas disponibles en su país con respecto a la maternidad subrogada y/o a la donación de óvulos.
  • Consideración de las leyes en los estados donde residen tanto los futuros padres como la madre subrogada.
  • Actualmente hay muchos estados en los que las leyes afirman que la maternidad subrogada es ilegal, o que los acuerdos no son reconocidos legalmente.

    II. Agencia Vs Independiente

  • Para determinar si desean trabajar por medio de una agencia o si desean hacerlo independientemente, deben tener en cuenta lo siguiente:
  • Actualmente hay un gran número de programas de maternidad subrogada y de donación de óvulos, los cuales ofrecen servicios especializados para parejas e individuos que están considerando en la reproducción asistida.
  • Debido a que hay muy pocas regulaciones en este campo, es muy importante para usted (es) que indaguen detalladamente los tipos de servicios que estas agencias van a prestarle y los costos que tienen.
  • Por ejemplo, ¿En qué momento tengo que pagar los honorarios a la agencia, debo pagarlos antes o después de escoger a la madre subrogada y/o a la donante de óvulos?; ¿Cuáles son los criterios de selección que la agencia utiliza para escoger las donantes de óvulos y las madres subrogadas? ¿Si los exámenes médicos y psicológicos no son aprobados, la agencia les proveerá con otra donante de óvulos u otra madre subrogada sin ningún costo adicional? Estas son simplemente algunas preguntas que usted puede tener en el momento de realizar la elección de la agencia con la que desea trabajar.
  • En caso que desee realizar el proceso de manera independiente, debe tener en cuenta lo siguiente aspectos:
    ¿Tendrá la capacidad de poder entablar una relación adecuada con la madre subrogada y la donante de óvulos?
    ¿Tendrá la capacidad de resolver algún problema que surja sin la intermediación de una tercera persona?

    III. Determine Costs:

  • Be certain that you are aware of the costs associated with the program you have selected. There may be hidden costs for additional cycles, lost wages, travel, child care, and unforeseen medical complications or consequences that are not spelled out in detail.

    IV. Informed Consent:

  • Consult with an attorney to determine the risks and ramifications of executing an agreement with a doctor, agency, and/or clinic.
  • Have your doctor explain to you and your surrogate/donor the medical procedures and risks involved with your particular treatment.

    V. Confirm Insurance Coverage:

  • Confirm that proper insurance coverage is in place for any catastrophic illness and/or medical consequences of the infertility procedures.
  • Determine whether your policy, and/or that of the surrogate or donor, will cover any or all medications and infertility treatments.
  • Many insurance companies are now denying medical maternity expenses to women serving as surrogates. Other insurance companies reserve the right to seek reimbursement from the Intended Parents for any maternity benefits paid on the surrogate’s behalf.
  • It is also imperative that the Intended Parents take the appropriate steps, in advance of birth, to have their child added to their own health insurance policy upon delivery.

    VI. Medical And Psychological Screening:

  • The Intended Parents, the Surrogate and her spouse, and the Egg Donor must complete a full medical examination which includes a variety of tests, including HIV.
  • Psychological testing and evaluation of the Surrogate and Egg Donor is also very important. This screening should be done by licensed psychologists who perform a variety of tests to determine the suitability of the surrogate and donor for the Intended Parents.

    VII. Execute Legal Contracts:

  • We will draft, negotiate and finalize legal agreements as needed with infertility specialists, agencies and third-party donors or surrogates.
  • We will ensure that your surrogate and/or egg donor is represented by competent, independent legal counsel, who must issue a legal clearance letter indicating that the surrogate (and her husband if she is married) and/or donor understands and appreciates the issues set forth in the contract, is proceeding with the arrangement voluntarily and without any coercion or undue influence.
      • The parties must determine the following:

    1. The financial responsibility of the parties.
    2. The legal responsibilities of the parties.
    3. Ensure that medical and psychological testing takes place.
    4. Address the ownership and disposition of any remaining embryos.
    5. Address what records must be maintained and by whom.
    6. Establish the parameters of acceptable conduct by the parties throughout the arrangement.
    7. Address insurance issues such as life, medical and disability insurance.
    8. Identify the mechanism to be utilized to finalize parental rights.
    9. Address issues of pre-natal testing and reduction.
    10. Establishment of a trust account.
    11. Compensation to be received by the Surrogate or Donor and what expenses will be reimbursed;
    12. Agree upon contact, if any, the surrogate and/or donor will have with the child.
  • The parties must also discuss such decisions as the number of embryos to transfer and decisions relating to selective and fetal reduction, as well as guardianship instructions in the event of the demise of one or both Intended Parents.
  • Additional issues to discuss include what the participants will tell their children, disposition of excess embryos, confidentiality issues, and the utilization of pre-natal testing, including pre-implantation genetic diagnosis and amniocentesis.
  • This guide is not meant to be a substitute for legal advice by one of our attorneys. This is for information purposes only; each case must be assessed individually on a case-by-case basis in order to determine the proper steps you will need to follow.

    • To learn more about beginning the process, contact our reproductive law attorney today.