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Surrogate Stripped of Rights After Defying Parents
14 Aug
Summary
- Surrogate McKenna West lost all parental rights to baby Gabriel.
- Parents sought a TRO after West defied their wishes to terminate pregnancy.
- West plans to fight for legal motherhood, citing Texas birth law.
A surrogate mother, McKenna West, has been legally stripped of all rights and access to the infant she carried. The biological parents from California obtained a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against West after she disregarded their decision to terminate the pregnancy. This decision stemmed from the fetus, Gabriel, being diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome.
West defied the agreement and traveled to Texas to give birth, leading to the legal action. The TRO prohibits West from making any medical or guardianship decisions for baby Gabriel and prevents her from interfering with the biological parents' access. The order is in effect until at least August 25, 2026, with a court appearance scheduled in Dallas County, Texas.
Despite the legal setback, West's attorney has stated her intention to fight for legal motherhood, arguing that under Texas law, the person who gives birth is considered the mother. The TRO was filed preemptively by the biological parents before the baby's birth.
