In a surrogacy arrangement, what is typically agreed upon by the surrogate?

• A. She agrees to give birth to a child she will not raise.
• B. She agrees to adopt the child.
• C. She agrees to act as the physician.
• D. She agrees to raise the child for a set period.

Answer: (A)

In surrogacy, the key idea is that the surrogate’s role is to carry and give birth to a child for the intended parents, and then relinquish custody so the intended parents become the legal parents. Therefore, the typical agreement is that she will give birth to a child she will not raise. This reflects the division between gestation and parenting that defines surrogacy arrangements. The other options would imply the surrogate becomes the parent or handles the child in ways that aren’t consistent with surrogacy—adopting would make her the parent, acting as the physician isn’t part of the surrogate’s role, and raising the child for a set period would create ongoing parental responsibility.