Surrogate Goes Through with Birth Despite Parents' Abortion Request... Who Gets Custody of the US Baby?

Controversy continues in the United States over a surrogate mother's delivery, involving allegations that the legal parents pressured her to have an abortion and a subsequent custody dispute.

Foreign media outlets, including The New York Times (NYT), reported that surrogate McKenna West safely gave birth to a baby boy named "Baby Gabriel" in Dallas, Texas, on the 12th (local time).

According to West's claims, the child's legal parents, Omar Ahmed and Nausheen Khilgar, pressured West to undergo an abortion after learning during a 20-week anatomy scan that the fetus suffered from hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is a congenital heart defect in which the left side of the heart is underdeveloped and unable to properly circulate blood throughout the body.

Without timely treatment, it can lead to death within weeks of birth, requiring multiple complex and difficult surgeries.

However, West did not give up on the pregnancy despite the demands of the legal parents.

In an interview conducted through a YouTube channel earlier this month, West confessed that the surrogate contract included a clause allowing the prospective parents to terminate the pregnancy, which caused her "great fear."

She contacted the anti-abortion organization Live Action through an acquaintance, and with the support of a conservative legal group, Live Action helped West leave her residence in Alaska and relocate to Texas, where abortion is banned.

Ken Paxton, the Texas Attorney General and a Republican Senate candidate, also stepped in to help West.

Consequently, a Dallas court issued a temporary restraining order the previous day prohibiting the child from being taken out of Texas until a hearing is held later this month.

At the same time, the court ensured that the child receives necessary medical treatment.

However, the court also issued a restraining order against West, who is claiming custody of the child, and barred her from introducing herself to anyone as the baby's parent, guardian, or medical decision-maker.

Lincoln Wilson, West's attorney, stated that in accordance with the court's order, West has not yet been able to see the baby after the birth.

He also emphasized that West will fight to the end for custody of her son.

In contrast, the legal parents refuted West's claim that they pressured her to have an abortion, calling it false.

Lee Birdner, an attorney for Ahmed and Khilgar, said in a statement, "We are deeply shocked to see the Texas Attorney General's Office and West turning a family tragedy into a political show when the son's medical condition alone is already deeply heartbreaking."

Birdner added that "the parents prioritize the baby's health and well-being above all else and will follow the medical staff's advice."

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.