Letters - Surrogacy as a Path to Parenthood - NYTimes.com "Building a Baby, With Few Ground Rules" ("21st-Century Babies" series, front page, Dec. 13) conveys the impression that it is common for surrogacy arrangements to end badly. It is important to remember that such cases constitute only a minute fraction of regular surrogacy arrangements. As a cultural anthropologist who conducted an eight-year study of gestational surrogacy, I have had the consistent experience that a surrogate would take such extreme measures as described in the article (a court order returning the twins to her custody) only if there has been a deep breach of her trust in the commissioning parents. Full screening of all parties involved in the process and disclosure of prior conditions are critical for creating the atmosphere of mutual respect and trust that leads to positive surrogacy experiences for all participants. American legislators can learn from Israel's pioneering national surrogacy law, which prevents such unfortunate scenarios through mandatory comprehensive screening of participants and uniform regulation of surrogacy contracts. Surrogacy is here to stay; it is time for Congress to catch up with the times. Elly Teman Philadelphia, Dec. 13, 2009 The writer, a research fellow at the Penn Center for the Integration of Genetic Healthcare Technologies, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, is the author of the forthcoming book "Birthing a Mother: The Surrogate Body and the Pregnant Self." The purpose of surrogacy is the fulfillment of one of our deepest longings, a genetic child, not the creation of an unrelated perfect child. Most intended parents use their own genetic material to create a child through surrogacy. Most surrogates are idealistic women who dream of helping childless people become parents, and payments to them are paltry as opposed to the risks, discomfort and hardship they incur. Surrogacy is an anguished, second-choice option for those who cannot conceive and give birth to a child. The unusual examples of surrogacy in your article - intended parents with no genetic link to the children created by surrogacy and a 62-year-old single father with questionable parenting skills - are aberrations that point out the need for fair, ethical legislation aimed at a legitimate path to parenthood through surrogacy. Robin Fleischner New York, Dec. 13, 2009 The writer is an adoptive parent and a lawyer practicing in the areas of adoption and surrogacy. This article is frightening, horrifying and saddening at different levels. Where are the rules to put borders on unhealthy egos, when crossing these boundaries puts many at risk? There is nothing wrong in not being able to have children, and we should realize that not everything can be had all the time. This way of "building" children is monstrous. And if it is true that probably lots of children have been conceived because of more or less selfish motives (keeping a realm, keeping a husband, help on the land and so on), today it seems that technology only compounds our dark motives, bringing out the worst in women and men. I wish that this business, which caters to people's deepest fragilities, insecurities and plain narcissism, could be redirected toward the probably less remunerative but much more needed business of catering to the very young lives of those who already exist. This could help would-be parents heal their issues and meet their needs in a healthier way for everybody. Marianna Malaspina New York, Dec. 13, 2009 Laschell Baker's decision to retrieve the twins she carried as surrogate for Amy Kehoe upon learning of Ms. Kehoe's psychiatric history was based on a misinformed view of mental illness. Ms. Kehoe's illness would not have prevented her from being a responsible and loving parent. Many people with serious mental illness can and do function at a high level and lead responsible lives with the help of medication, therapy and family support. It is apparent that Ms. Kehoe has benefited from aids to recovery and is managing her illness successfully.