Canadian Surrogacy Dispute: Couple Sues After Surrogate Refuses Termination Over Cleft Lip
A Canadian surrogate in Ontario is being sued by a same-sex couple after she refused their June 2024 request to terminate a pregnancy at 22 weeks due to concerns about a cleft lip and possible genetic abnormalities; the couple seeks about $600,000 in damages and alleges the surrogate failed to keep them informed and endangered the child, while she says she would have aborted only if the fetus had no chance of survival. Mount Sinai later determined the fetus was otherwise healthy beyond the cleft lip, prompting the couple to continue the pregnancy. The dispute, which began in arbitration, has escalated to a civil suit, highlighting that Canadian law generally leaves the final abortion decision to the pregnant woman.
