(L to R) Michael Condon, Dr Warren DeAmbrosis, me and David Cleary from the LGBTI Legal Service
A seminar on how to make a baby, for those not doing so the
old fashioned way, was a resounding success. Nearly 70 attendees made this the
largest seminar of this type in Brisbane.
The seminar, run for the LGBTI Legal Service, featured three
speakers: fertility counsellor Michael Condon, fertility specialist and one of
the founders of Qld Fertility Group, Dr Warren DeAmbrosis, and me.
The speakers described the complex legal landscape involving
egg and sperm donation and surrogacy, as well as the practical issues with
becoming a parent through those processes, and the associated medical issues.
A seminar on how to make a baby, for those not doing so the
old fashioned way, was a resounding success. Nearly 70 attendees made this the
largest seminar of this type in Brisbane.
The seminar, run for the LGBTI Legal Service, featured three
speakers: fertility counsellor Michael Condon, fertility specialist and one of
the founders of Qld Fertility Group, Dr Warren DeAmbrosis, and me.
The speakers described the complex legal landscape involving
egg and sperm donation and surrogacy, as well as the practical issues with
becoming a parent through those processes, and the associated medical issues.
Several intended parents raised the difficulties of
proceeding with surrogacy in Queensland. Attendees were told that commercial
surrogacy is illegal in Queensland, and still an offence for those in
Queensland who go overseas.
By contrast, those who go to Canada for altruistic surrogacy
can do so legally in Queensland. I said the cost of undertaking surrogacy in
Qld (including IVF costs) could be done for as low as $25,000, or up to
$60,000, largely depending on the number of IVF cycles.
Michael Condon mentioned to take care with known sperm
donation, and that in his view sperm donors to lesbian couples were not dads. I
said that to undertake known sperm donation was extremely risky- because donor
agreements were not binding, and that if the donor has a change of mind then a
trip to the Family Court might be the outcome that happens that no one anticipated.
Dr DeAmbrosis mentioned ways to cut IVF costs when
contemplating surrogacy, and that 1 in 10,000 childbirths resulting in the
death of the birth mother, which demonstrated that there was a risk to being a
surrogate. He also said that older couples were often spending money on IVF
using their own eggs and sperm when because of age or because either was a
smoker that the chances of getting pregnant were very low.
Several intended parents raised the difficulties of
proceeding with surrogacy in Queensland. Attendees were told that commercial
surrogacy is illegal in Queensland, and still an offence for those in
Queensland who go overseas.
By contrast, those who go to Canada for altruistic surrogacy
can do so legally in Queensland. I said the cost of undertaking surrogacy in
Qld (including IVF costs) could be done for as low as $25,000, or up to
$60,000, largely depending on the number of IVF cycles.
Michael Condon mentioned to take care with known sperm
donation, and that in his view sperm donors to lesbian couples were not dads. I
said that to undertake known sperm donation was extremely risky- because donor
agreements were not binding, and that if the donor has a change of mind then a
trip to the Family Court might be the outcome that happens that no one anticipated.
Dr DeAmbrosis mentioned ways to cut IVF costs when
contemplating surrogacy, and that 1 in 10,000 childbirths resulting in the
death of the birth mother, which demonstrated that there was a risk to being a
surrogate. He also said that older couples were often spending money on IVF
using their own eggs and sperm when because of age or because either was a
smoker that the chances of getting pregnant were very low.
Thank you to Toby Longhurst and Qnews for the pics.
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