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Intentional Parenthood: Responsibilities in Surrogate Motherhood

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Abstract

In recent years, a number of writers dealingwith questions over parenthood that arisein the context of reproductive technologies andsurrogate motherhood, have appealed to thenotion of ``intentional parenthood''. Basingtheir argument on liberal values such asindividual autonomy, the freedom to entercontracts, the right to privacy, and individualself-fulfilment, they argue that contractuallystated intentions, rather than genetic orgestational relationships, should form thebasis of parental rights. Against this I arguethat parental rights do not derive fromcontractual agreements, but are based in theirobligations towards the child. I then examinethe nature of the obligations that the variousparties have towards the child both pre- andpostnatally.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Philosophy Department, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, New Zealand

    Liezl van Zyl

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  1. Liezl van Zyl
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van Zyl, L. Intentional Parenthood: Responsibilities in Surrogate Motherhood. Health Care Analysis 10, 165–175 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016550002211

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016550002211

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