BANGKOK – A surrogate mother who gave birth to twins, was left with one of the babies after the child’s biological parents learned he was born with Down Syndrome.
The Australian parents claimed they were not informed of his condition until late in the pregnancy.
Pattaramon Janbua, from Thailand, said her doctors, the surrogacy agency and the baby’s parents knew the child had Down Syndrome four months into the pregnancy, but did not inform her until the seventh month when the agency asked her — at the parents’ request — to undergo an abortion, according to MSN.com.
Garmy, the baby boy, needs surgery for a congenital heart condition.
An online campaign in Australia has raised nearly $186,200 in donations for the operation.
“I want to warn those who are considering becoming a surrogate mother, don’t only think about the money,” Pattaramon said. “If the child is born with an unusual condition or if anything goes wrong, it will become a burden for you and society.”
Garmy is being treated for a lung infection in a hospital east of and his condition is stable, a spokesman as the hospital said on Sunday.
There are no laws governing surrogacy in Thailand, said Vichien Chavalit, permanent secretary of Thailand’s Ministry of Social Development and Human Security.
Gammy was not the first case in which a child has been left with a surrogate mother, Vichien said, adding: “This will lead to further social problems.”
Australian Prime Minister said on Saturday that authorities there would look to see if there was anything they could do about the case.
“It is an incredibly sad story,” he told Australian reporters.
