Natural Law theories and tenants are based in nature and therefore theoretically valid everywhere. As humans we sometimes find fault with the laws of nature and try to employ a sort of legal positivism to right various injustices that we as societies believe exist in the natural system. Whether this is a “correct” course of action or not is not always clear as this case shows.

Natural Law would seem to exclaim quite clearly that infertile couples should not have children. If their genetic material was suitable for reproduction, then having children would not even be an issue of discussion. However since nature has deemed them unfit I cannot help but find it unwise and completely against the natural order that they persist in pursuing such a course of action. Questions of fairness in this regard are moot. It is regrettable that not everyone can birth their own child, however everyone CAN adopt. (Everyone who is fit to parent that is). The natural order and indeed the genetic viability of our species depends on healthy and natural reproduction, not test tube genetic experiments.

Let us consider what the woman in the above comment has done to satisfy the egos of both herself and that of her husband. First, she has engaged in a form of human trafficking; renting a part of a woman’s body who is too poor or uneducated to make a living in and other manner. Is this far different from prostitution?… After all the organs that are being rented are very close neighbors. This third world woman, now very likely quite demeaned in her culture, is paid a pittance in comparison to what the wear, tear, labor and pain of having a child will really cost. The first world woman makes out the surrogate mother’s living conditions as if it were a first class hotel; however I can’t help but wonder if she would herself live in those same conditions despite the “air-conditioning”. In addition what happens when the baby is born?… as the care and concern was really for the first world baby inside of the third world mother… will the pampering continue?
Second if the risky and invasive fertility treatment that was done to this woman results in more than twins, the fetus are aborted. (As the proud mother beams, ” Multiples are reduced to twins or a singleton, your choice”) It is almost as if she were ordering from a menu at the baby store. Regardless of if one is pro or anti -abortion (I myself am quite a fan of the Chinese policy), this is a needless and unconscionable manufacturing and destruction of human life; all because some poor rich American people cannot have their own spawn.

Taking Utilitarianism in to question (something I don’t usually like to do seeing as how it is a somewhat dated and flawed British construct) do we find the greatest good for the greatest number in this outcome? One rich couple gets their “own” child. One Indian family becomes a tiny step closer to middle class. But how much good could have been produced with that same money, medical equipment, and expertise if it were used in helping the many sick and unwanted orphans in the Calcutta slums. Would it perhaps have helped 100 children… 1000?
To these rich egotistical and barren first world parents I ask?… What is wrong with one of the millions of adoptable children in the world that would love to have a home and family to care for them? Why are they not good enough ? Why not one from India?… are they too brown?..

While my comments are in some part intended to provoke and inflame, they are also intended to make people pause and consider the consequences of their actions. Most actions that we undertake are done in the name of “self”, and in this situation I see little difference. The world does not revolve around one individual, or one family, or one couple’s ability to have children. We are all a part of this planet and must work together to make it function in a healthy and sustainable manner. Barren or not I indented to adopt my child, there are too many homeless ones that need love. We should focus and love the forgotten children that already live in our world before we use our technology, resources, and education to produce new ones, especially if these new ones are produce with no regard to the rights of humans or nature.