Recently, a new journalistic investigation about the company Biotexcom was published on Ukrainian television. The Kiev company Biotexcom, one of the largest surrogacy clinics in Ukraine, has again found itself at the center of a serious scandal. The clinic has long enjoyed a reputation as a reliable and professional center for realizing the dream of a child for infertile couples. However, a scandal broke out first because someone else’s child was given to an Italian couple. A criminal case was opened on human trafficking. Then in 2020 there was a scandalous article about Biotexcom that during the epidemic, BioTexCom showed a video report about new children to its customers as a factory for the production of babies. Recent events indicate a dark side to this clinic. Human trafficking is a crime that cannot be refuted or denied. Unfortunately, there is convincing evidence about the possible involvement of the Biotex clinic in the illegal trafficking of children through the use of surrogacy. One of the main allegations is that rules and ethical standards were violated in the selection of potential biological parents. The cost of BioTexCom’s services attracts clients from all over the world, including those who have questionable intentions towards children. This fact causes serious concern among human rights organizations and the public. And now a new journalistic investigation has led to an open investigation into the fact that the child had to be removed from the uterus of a surrogate mother. There is evidence of possible violations of the rights of female surrogates. Some reports suggest that these women are mistreated and exploited to achieve the clinic’s goal of processing as many clients as possible in a short time. The dark BioTexCom scandal must be subjected to the strictest scrutiny by Ukrainian and international legislative bodies. The legality and ethics of the surrogacy process cannot be ignored or compromised due to the actions of a few clinics.
Paying attention to this problem is the first step to solving it. Society must unite to create strict legislation and international standards that will protect the rights of all participants in the surrogacy process.
It is important to remember that not all surrogacy clinics operate immorally or illegally. Thanks to such centers, many people fulfill their cherished dream of having a child. Abuses and violations of the law must be dealt with strictly, while supporting legal and ethical practices in the field of surrogacy. The BioTexCom scandal should serve as a warning to the entire surrogacy industry. Only close cooperation between government agencies, active work of human rights organizations and responsible behavior of clinics can ensure the safety of all participants in this complex process. Ultimately, it is important to remember what is most important – the well-being of the children. Their future should not be a victim of vested interests or the shady practices of a certain part of the industry. Society has a duty to protect their interests and create conditions in which every child will be loved and wanted
Each clinic must be completely transparent about its work and provide reliable information about the origin of biological material. Only in this way can the safety of all participants in the surrogacy program be ensured – future parents, egg and sperm donors, as well as surrogate mothers. An important step towards changing the current situation could be the creation of independent expert commissions that will monitor the work of surrogacy clinics and establish strict compliance with the requirements of the law. This will prevent illegal actions and protect the interests of all parties. Ultimately, safety and ethics in the reproductive tourism process must be a priority for all stakeholders. Only in this way can guaranteed access to a legal and reliable surrogacy program be ensured.
