Evolving Surrogate Base Compensation

By: Frank Golden

With the first successful gestational surrogate pregnancy, having been roughly 30 years ago, surrogacy as a family building method remains a relatively new concept in the medical field. Regardless of this fact, the demand is quite large. About 750 babies are born each year using gestational surrogacy. As I mentioned in my last podcast, our Intended Parent inquiries have been through the roof and we have onboarded quite a few Intended Parents since the new year. We are given the privileged task of recruiting the perfect Surrogate for them, but also trusted to ensure the Surrogate’s compensation is fair and reasonable for all parties in an arrangement.

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Surrogate Medical Records and Chain of Custody

By: Frank Golden

Throughout my years operating Golden Surrogacy, I have noticed many agencies, big and small, having surrogate applicants request their own medical records. There are so many red flags that go off in my head when contemplating these actions. This method is often chosen because it can reduce the agency’s case load and is more expedient during the on-boarding phase. However, I must caution, going this route does create the potential for fraud to occur.

I have witnessed situations where surrogate applicants will apply and send us their medical records they already have on file. In some cases, applicants have even omitted very crucial pieces of information. At Golden Surrogacy, we always conduct our due diligence and collect all medical records ourselves, even if the applicant sends us past records. If agencies collect records directly from the applicant, it is possible that their records may not be entirely accurate, and approval could be determined based on the false premise that they are healthy and capable to carry a full-term pregnancy when in fact they may not be able to do so.

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Celebrities Talk Infertility

By: Frank Golden

Last week Ellen Pompeo announced the birth of her third child with husband Chris Ivery. Pompeo gave birth to her first child, while her second was born via surrogate. It is unknown how her third, Eli Christopher, joined the family but it could likely be via surrogate.

Pompeo spoke on Jimmy Kimmel Live! about her surrogacy journey saying, “This is an incredible thing to do with your life, to give the gift of carrying someone’s child. I am forever grateful and feel very blessed and grateful to her.”

Ellen’s news and her speaking out about her journey made me think about the amount of celebrities who have also spoken about their own surrogacy or IVF journeys. Some celebrities who have had a child via surrogate include Neil Patrick Harris, Elton John, Tyra Banks, Jimmy Fallon, Giuliana and Bill Rancic, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Nicole Kidman. Recently, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, Maria Menounos, Celine Dion, and Real Housewives Meghan King Edmonds have been vocal about the success and disappointment of their IVF treatments. Olivia Munn has also been open about freezing her eggs, while Kim Kardashian was in the process of having her eggs frozen when she became pregnant with North West.

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Ethical Screening Guidelines for Surrogates

By: Frank Golden

The process of gestational surrogacy has many moving parts that must synchronize in near perfect rhythm to reach the ultimate goal of producing a baby for a loving couple or individual. Through my three personal journeys and with experience running my own surrogacy agency, I have become quite familiar with the vital role that ethics play in the proper management of a surrogacy journey. There is business, ASRM (American Society for Reproductive Medicine), legal, and medical ethics to consider.

One of the most important ethical aspects of a surrogacy journey is the selection of a surrogate. Intended Parents put their trust and confidence into a woman with the hopes of making their parenting dreams come true. It takes a special type of individual to become a Surrogate, and most agencies lose sight of their moral compass when selecting which applicants to accept. I have personally witnessed in-take specialists, at various agencies who actively onboard underqualified candidates. They simply choose to accept the candidate because it is more expedient and financially beneficial.

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Golden Surrogacy At Path2Parenthood 2016 Illuminations NYC

This week Golden Surrogacy Founder and Program Director, Frank Golden attended Path2Parenthood Illuminations NYC fundraising gala. While at the event he met with P2P National Spokesperson Brenda Strong. Golden Surrogacy was a proud sponsor of the event that raises funds to help couples and individuals find their unique pathway to parenthood!

Frank is on the Board of Directors for Path2Parenthood and was named their Vice Chair at the event. Congratulations Frank!

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