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🇬🇧 United Kingdom /Culture & Society

Baby at Center of Texas Surrogacy Dispute Placed with Parents

From The Guardian · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • A baby with a rare heart defect, at the center of a Texas surrogacy dispute, has been placed in the custody of the biological parents.
  • The dispute involved the surrogate mother's alleged refusal to abort the child and the Texas attorney general's intervention to ensure medical care.
  • Lawyers for the parents stated the baby is receiving expert medical care, while the surrogate mother's attorney plans to challenge parentage orders.

A two-day-old baby diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a severe heart defect requiring multiple surgeries, has been placed in the physical custody of his biological parents in Texas. The child was born to surrogate mother McKenna West after she reportedly resisted the biological parents' alleged requests for an abortion, a claim the parents deny. West had traveled to Texas for protection and to ensure the child received care from experienced doctors, expressing concern about her own decision-making power.

Our clients’ son was born yesterday morning and he is now in their physical custody while he receives expert medical care at a tertiary care center.

— Lee BudnerAttorney for the biological parents, confirming the baby's custody and care.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton intervened in the case, securing a court order to guarantee life-saving medical treatment for the baby, whom he named Gabriel. Paxton stated his office used all available tools to protect the child's life and well-being, vowing to continue fighting for his care. He emphasized that every child deserves protection and that his office would ensure the baby received medically necessary care under Texas law.

Our clients are continuing to place their baby’s health and well-being first.

— Lee BudnerAttorney for the biological parents, responding to the surrogate mother's actions.

However, the baby is now with the biological parents, Nausheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed of California. Their attorney, Lee Budner, confirmed the baby's custody and ongoing expert medical care, asserting that the courts rejected West's attempts to interfere with the child's treatment. Budner accused Paxton and West of turning a family tragedy into "political theater."

Utilized every tool at our disposal to protect life, and we will not back down in continuing to support baby Gabriel’s well-being. Every child in our state deserves to be cared for and protected, and that’s exactly what I’ll fight for.

— Ken PaxtonTexas Attorney General, on his office's intervention to ensure the baby received medical care.

West's attorney, Lincoln Davis Wilson, stated that West has been denied contact with the child but intends to continue efforts to gain custody. He indicated plans to challenge parentage orders, arguing that Texas law designates the birth mother as the legal mother. West had previously expressed feeling "trapped" by her contract and lacking a voice in the situation.

Baby Gabriel deserves a chance at life, and I will not allow anyone to unlawfully deny him medically necessary care.

— Ken PaxtonTexas Attorney General, emphasizing his commitment to the baby's well-being.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Guardian in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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