McKenna West, a surrogate mother in the US, has landed in a legal battle after refusing to abort a baby diagnosed with a serious heart condition. The biological parents, Nausheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed, have sued her for over $100,000, claiming she breached their contract.
Biological Parents Demand Damages
The couple had paid West $60,000 during the pregnancy under a surrogacy agreement, which reportedly contained provisions covering pregnancy termination under certain circumstances. They argue that West broke the contract and caused them emotional distress. According to the filing, they want compensation for what they described as West's "malicious, outrageous conduct."
A Complex Medical Condition
The baby, who has undergone the Norwood procedure, the first of three complex surgeries usually needed for children born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), is considered to be in a serious condition. Doctors say children with the condition are born with an underdeveloped left side of the heart, making treatment extremely challenging. The surgery is considered life-saving but recovery can be long and complicated.
Support for the Surrogate Mother
McKenna West has received support from pro-life organisation Live Action, which has been helping with her legal battle. The organisation's founder, Lila Rose, has publicly defended West and condemned the lawsuit. Rose said, "The people who ordered McKenna to abort this little boy because of his heart condition are now dragging her into court, trying to punish and financially ruin her for refusing to kill him, while demanding custody of the same child they ordered to be killed."
A Fight for Custody
The biological parents' lawyer, Lee Budner, has confirmed that West's continued efforts to claim parental rights are "baseless" and violate previous court orders issued in Alaska and California. West has denied doing anything wrong and is asking the court to throw out the lawsuit against her. The case has become a major legal battle over surrogacy, abortion, disability rights, and parental custody across multiple US states.
Medical Intervention
Before the child was born, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton obtained an emergency court order to ensure the baby would receive medically necessary treatment immediately after delivery. His office also notified UT Southwestern Medical Center and Children's Medical Center Dallas that they were legally required to provide life-saving care. At the time, Paxton said, "The court has made the right decision in immediately acting to protect baby Gabriel's life and ensure he receives the care he deserves."
Source: Pulse.ng
