The infants at the crux of the surrogacy scandal are inside the Chania hospital in Crete.
Two Australian couples are being represented by Stephen Page after Greek authorities stormed the Mediterranean Fertility Institute and detained its medical staff, leaving them in limbo.
The kindest way I can put it is a mess; it’s a complete and total mess, said Page.
It is charged with using 169 women from nations like the Ukraine, Romania, and Georgia for labour or as egg donors while keeping them under constant observation.
The alleged trafficking organisation is also charged with fraudulent IVF procedures and illicit adoptions.
The hundreds of parents who have successfully employed its services have been shocked by the situation.
The fact that this clinic has been there for 30 years, is well-known, and IVF is fairly well controlled in Greece surprises me about this case, Page added.
The situation is extremely upsetting for everyone involved, according to Australia’s ambassador to Greece, Alison Duncan.
According to Sam Everingham, worldwide director of Growing Families, “there are about 100 Australian couples who are affected in some way, whether or not they have pregnant surrogates, births there are currently, or embryos trapped in storage there.”
Some may have received children who are not genetically their own.
Sarah Jefford is assisting three would-be parents who have been affected by her job as a surrogate mother.
She wants Australia’s surrogacy laws to be relaxed.
The only way to ensure surrogacy is risk-free, according to Jefford, is to carry out the procedure domestically, where we can ensure the safety of the intended parents, the surrogate, and the unborn children.
