The history of surrogacy dates back to 1979 when Dr. Richard Levin met with a couple that was unable to conceive a child. The couple had been seen by a variety of other doctors who were unable to help. After discussions with Dr. Levin the woman’s ultimate motive was to have her husband’s child even if she could not carry the pregnancy. Dr. Levin suggested the couple be open to the use of a donor woman or what we now call a “Surrogate Mother”. Along with a group of attorneys, Dr. Levin spent nine months looking at state and federal laws to identify what the legal ramifications would be in the use of a surrogate. The ethical and religions point of views were look at to identify a variety of reasons why this arrangement would not be feasible. He also took into consideration the moral values of the local community and consulted with varies clergymen. With careful consideration a contractual agreement was finalized taking into full consideration the infertile couple, the surrogate mother, and the child.
During another nine month evaluation process by the legal and medical team, the first surrogate mother came into being. A mutual agreement with the surrogate and the couple allowed for artificial inseminated to take place in the early 1980’s. The surrogate mother conceived within the first month and labor was induced nine months later birthing a baby born and handed the baby over to the couple. Within days the Circuit Court terminated her rights as the legal guardian and gave guardianship to the biologic father. The couple then followed the legal channels formalizing their rights as the parents of the baby boy. “This was the world’s first case of legal, planned, surrogate parenting”.