Baby With Rare Heart Defect Enters Parents' Custody After Texas Court Order
Updated
Updated · CBS New York · Aug 13
Baby With Rare Heart Defect Enters Parents' Custody After Texas Court Order
3 articles · Updated · CBS New York · Aug 13
Summary
Born Wednesday in Texas, the baby at the center of the surrogate dispute is now in his California parents' physical custody and receiving expert care at a tertiary center, their lawyer said Thursday.
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome typically requires a series of surgeries beginning in the first weeks of life, making immediate medical control central to the court fight.
Ken Paxton intervened after the surrogate, McKenna West, refused the parents' request to abort and traveled to Texas, securing an order that the baby receive lifesaving care and that the parents control medical decisions.
West was barred from contact after birth and plans to keep challenging the parentage orders, with her lawyer arguing Texas law treats the woman who gives birth as the child's mother.