THAILAND: Police raids gynaecology clinic suspected of conducting illegal surrogacy services

Record ID: 644507

  • Title: THAILAND: Police raids gynaecology clinic suspected of conducting illegal surrogacy services
  • Date: 8th August 2014
  • Summary: BANGKOK, THAILAND (AUGUST 8, 2014) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF OFFICE BUILDING CLINIC'S RECEPTION ROOM VIEWED FROM OUTSIDE GLASS DOOR POSTER WITH PICTURE OF MOTHER HOLDING BABY IN THE ROOM SLIPPERS FOR VISITORS ON FLOOR BANNER OF 'ALL IEF' GYNAECOLOGY CLINIC ON WALL VARIOUS OF POLICEMEN IN LOBBY OF THE OFFICE BUILDING MEDIA FILMING SCENE LOCKED DOOR OF OFFICE THE OFFICE VIEWED FROM OUTSIDE COVERED SIGNBOARD VARIOUS OF AUTHORITIES TALKING TO STAFF OF THE OFFICE BUILDING NEWS CONFERENCE BY POLICE AND PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITY (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITY OFFICIAL, BOONRUANG TRIRUANGWORAWAT, SAYING; "We are going to file a complaint against this clinic, and (if found guilty) the owner can be imprisoned and fined. On the case of the doctor (in this clinic) who deviated from the medical code, we will send the case to the medical council to consider this ethical matter." MEDIA TAKING NOTES (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) POLICE COLONEL NAPANTWUT LIAMSANGUAN SAYING; "We came to check this place because we have one of the surrogate mothers who got her surrogate baby here, and we believe that this place must have carried out the procedure for more than just one among the nine babies."
  • Embargoed: 23rd August 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Thailand
  • Country: Thailand
  • Topics: Crime,Health,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAJR449HNB63DDRAHV0AFWOZWM
  • Story Text: Thai police raided a gynaecology clinic suspected of carrying out surrogacy procedures for nine surrogate babies discovered in a Bangkok condominium, who are believed to share the same Japanese biological father.
    Police arrived at the downtown Bangkok clinic on Friday (August 8) to find the facility closed.
    Public Health Ministry officials, who also took part in the raid, said the 'All IEF' clinic registered with the ministry three years ago.
    "We are going to file a complaint against this clinic, and (if found guilty) the owner can be imprisoned and fined. On the case of the doctor (in this clinic) who deviated from the medical code, we will send the case to the medical council to consider this ethical matter," said ministry official Boonruang Triruangworawat.
    Authorities investigating the case said the Japanese biological father is believed to have left the country.
    "We came to check this place because we have one of the surrogate mothers who got her surrogate baby here, and we believe that this place must have carried out the procedure for more than just one among the nine babies," said Police Colonel Napantwut Liamsanguan.
    This latest case follows that of an Australian couple accused of leaving a Downs syndrome baby with his surrogate Thai birth mother, triggering global condemnation and calls for an overhaul of lax surrogacy laws.
    The case has concerns over the ease with which foreigners can buy surrogacy services in Thailand.
    Thailand has a lucrative but largely unregulated surrogacy business. Although commercial surrogacy is barred by the code of conduct of the Medical Council of Thailand, the country is a top destination in Asia for couples opting for surrogacy arrangements.
    In the wake of the case authorities have begun a nationwide crackdown on clinics offering surrogacy services to see if they follow regulations.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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