Medico legal and ethical aspects of surrogacy; A case report of a tragic maternal death from Sri Lanka. (October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kitulwatte, I.D.G.; Gangahawatte, S.; Perera, U.L.M.S.; Edirisinghe, P.A.S.
• Is Part Of: Journal of forensic and legal medicine. Volume 91(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-10
• Subjects: Surrogacy -- Fatty liver -- Maternal death -- Ethics -- Regulations; Medical jurisprudence -- Periodicals; Forensic sciences -- Periodicals; Forensic Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine légale -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 614.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2022.102425
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1752-928X

Abstract

Abstract: A case report from Sri Lanka on surrogacy leading to a tragic maternal death; medico-legal and ethical aspects. Surrogacy, with multiple ethical and legal issues associated with it, is practised worldwide. Although regulations are not available in Sri Lanka, we report a woman who had a tragic death as a complication of surrogate pregnancy. The body of a young mother with four living children was brought for autopsy examination. According to the documents provided, there was a controversy about the deceased's identity. A woman volunteered to show a pillow trapped in her abdomen, simulating a pregnancy. By surrogacy, her husband's sperm were inseminated in this woman's uterus artificially according to a contract. She was diagnosed and managed for pregnancy-induced hypertension in the second trimester. At 36 weeks of gestation, she was admitted to the hospital in labour. On admission, she was icteric with elevated blood pressure. A cesarean section delivered a baby, and it was noted that she had an abruption of the placenta. She developed a postpartum haemorrhage following delivery, and resuscitation failed, resulting in her death. She had elevated liver enzymes and low serum proteins before death. Autopsy findings included intense icterus, congested lungs, global ischemic changes in the myocardium, pale kidneys and fatty soft yellow liver. This case discusses many unanticipated legal and ethical issues related to surrogate pregnancy, especially in a lack of regulations regarding the practice and relatively cheap medical expenses. Highlights: There are multiple ethical and legal issues associated with surrogacy. Sri Lanka is a country where there are no legislations regarding surrogacy. The case highlights a tragic death of a woman as a complication of surrogate pregnancy. Un anticipated legal and ethical issues related to surrogate pregnancy are discussed in this case report.