Lack of compromise said to have doomed surrogacy legislation

The organizer of a forum held in Ville Platte in March regarding the issue of surrogate births said the state Legislature narrowly missed an opportunity to reach a compromise on legislation, which was vetoed by Governor Bobby Jindal last Saturday.
Dr. Gregory Ardoin brought together several professionals to discuss the issue of birth surrogacy, where a couple incapable of conceiving contracts with a woman who agrees to carry the couple’s in vitro produced embryo to full term. The forum attracted a large audience at the Family Life Center at Our Lady Queen of All Saints Catholic Church.
Governor Jindal issued a statement when he vetoed the legislation on May 31, stating it “still raises concerns for many in the pro-life community.” Last year, the governor also vetoed legislation that would have allowed surrogate births.
This year, the legislation, sponsored by Representative Joe Lopinto of Metairie, and Senator John Smith of Leesville, both Republicans, passed in the House 72 to seven and in the Senate 22 to 11.
Dr. Ardoin said Lopinto agreed to a compromise that would have inserted a “non-severability clause” that would have required the law to be “scrapped” if it was later changed -- for example by a court order -- and the legislative process would start over again during the next session. He said the compromise was removed from the bill “at the eleventh hour,” before the legislation passed. Dr. Ardoin said in other states, courts have altered state laws regarding surrogacy
Right-to-life advocates opposed to the legislation say it would lead to the exploitation and possible harm to the surrogate mother, who must be treated with powerful hormones in preparation for the procedure. Pro-life advocates also object to the discarding of viable embryos that takes place in the in vitro process.
Opponents of the legislation also say passing the legislation would lead to a “baby broker industry,” with a “web of regulations” for promoting “commercial surrogate pregnancy” or “wombs for rent.”