Assisted reproductive technologies: the problems of legal enforcement.

OBJECTIVE

Introduction: Today, the use of assisted reproductive technologies (including surrogacy) is an effective method of guaranteeing realization of person's right on maternity or paternity. Through therapeutic efficiency reproductive means have become incredibly popular among population. However, the lack of certain legal relations in the sphere of surrogacy (both at the international level and the national one) leads to the confusion in the theory and practice. The aim: In this article, the author has set himself the following aims: a) to determine the state of legal regulation of surrogate maternity at national and international levels; b) to focus on problematic moments in legal regulation of surrogacy, which cause such phenomena as medical tourism and human trafficking; c) to investigate the regimes of legal regulation of surrogacy in the countries of the world.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Materials and methods: The methodological framework of the research consists of general scientific and special methods. The dialectical method is used to identify the term surrogacy and its meaning; the method of summarization is applied to the case laws (judgements of European Court of Human Rights and other high legislative bodies of foreign countries). The statistical method is applied to statistical data; the formal method is used for analysing the experience of such foreign countries as the USA (state Illinois, Nevada, California), Sweden, the Netherlands, India, Great Britain. Lastly, the method of comparison is applied to determine the similarities or differences between domestic and foreign legislation.

RESULTS

Review: There are three regimes of surrogacy in the world which contradict one another (altruistic, permitting and prohibiting). The difference between legal regulations of surrogacy contributes expansion of such a phenomenon as medical tourism.

CONCLUSION

Conclusions: Owing to absence of unified principles and standards on international level in the sphere of surrogacy, subjects of such legal relations are absolutely unprotected. Such phenomena as medical tourism, human trafficking and commercial exploitation of surrogate mothers are extending.