Baby in Surrogacy Dispute Has Successful Heart Surgery

A newborn at the center of a high-profile US surrogacy dispute has successfully undergone the first of three heart operations needed to treat a severe congenital condition.

The baby underwent a Norwood procedure on 17 August after doctors determined he was eligible for surgery. An attorney for the intended parents, Omar Ahmed and Nausheen Gilkar, said they immediately consented to the operation. The child is recovering under their care, although his condition remains “critical and complex”.

The baby was born in Texas on 12 August to surrogate mother McKenna West, who says the couple had asked her to terminate the pregnancy after he was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. West refused, and the dispute later developed into a legal battle over custody and medical treatment.

West is continuing her effort to gain custody, saying her priority is to ensure the child receives ongoing treatment. The intended parents reject her claims and say they have authorized the medical care recommended by doctors.

(mja)