Sacred Bond: the legacy of baby M
In 1985, Mary Beth Whitehead signed a contract agreeing to act as a surrogate mother for William and Elizabeth Stern for a payment of $10,000. After giving birth...
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The Story
In 1985, Mary Beth Whitehead signed a contract agreeing to act as a surrogate mother for William and Elizabeth Stern for a payment of $10,000. After giving birth to the child, known in the case as 'Baby M', she decided to break her contract and keep the baby. Her decision led to a court battle that made headlines everywhere. The author explores the impact of this case on our society's legal, psychological and ethical condition. This book uses this case to explore such questions as: what makes a mother - or father - fit, and who decides? Should surrogacy be abolished? Who can determine a child's 'best interests'? Will pregnancy and childbirth become a blue-collar 'occupation'? Phyllis Chesler also wrote 'Women and Madness', 'About Men', 'With Child' and 'Mothers on Trial: The Battle for Children and Custody'.