Surrogacy in China goes on

BEIJING, Aug. 28 (UPI) -- Official restrictions against surrogacy in China reportedly haven't been able to stop the practice because of the financial incentive it offers needy women.

Citing recent cases, the China Daily reported Tuesday a 32-year-old widow had become surrogate mother twice.

"I inseminated myself with the sperm of the husband of another woman and later gave birth to the child, whom I would never meet again," she was quoted as saying.

She received about $9,250 for her first surrogate birth and a little more than that the second time, the report said. The woman was quoted as saying her conscience was clear as she felt “happy to help those in need” and also because she had no choice as “I have my own children to support.”

The surrogacy industry goes on unhampered with the help of brokers, agencies and other middlemen who are able to take advantage of loopholes in the legal system and because of the demand from infertile couples.

“It's a complicated issue involving ethical concerns and social norms," a staff worker with China’s Ministry of Health told the newspaper. "Therefore, it's difficult to produce legislation on surrogacy bans."