Updated
Updated · KERA News · Aug 19
Ken Paxton Withdraws From Surrogacy Case After Securing Court-Ordered Care for Baby With 1 Heart Defect
Updated
Updated · KERA News · Aug 19

Ken Paxton Withdraws From Surrogacy Case After Securing Court-Ordered Care for Baby With 1 Heart Defect

3 articles · Updated · KERA News · Aug 19

Summary

  • Paxton filed a notice of nonsuit Wednesday to exit the multistate surrogacy fight, saying he had achieved his goal of forcing a Dallas hospital to provide life-saving treatment to the newborn.
  • The baby, born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, is recovering after open-heart surgery; his condition after the operation was not disclosed.
  • The case began after surrogate McKenna West fled from Alaska to Texas, alleging the California biological parents wanted her to abort the fetus because of the congenital heart condition, which the couple denies.
  • Paxton's withdrawal would end his order blocking West from removing the baby from Texas or the hospital, but a separate temporary restraining order sought by biological father Omar Ahmed still bars her from medical decisions, custody claims or removing the child pending a Tuesday hearing.

Insights

When a surrogate and intended parents clash over life-saving surgery, who legally holds the power to decide the newborn's fate?
Who bears the massive financial burden for a newborn when a surrogacy agreement collapses over a severe congenital heart defect?
Could a surrogate's cross-country flight to save a baby rewrite the rules of modern surrogacy contracts and parental rights?