Surrogate gives birth in Texas to baby with heart defect after biological parents requested abortion
A surrogate mother named McKenna West gave birth to a baby boy in Texas after the biological parents reportedly asked her to terminate the pregnancy following a diagnosis of hypoplastic left heart syndrome at approximately 20 weeks. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton intervened, notifying UT Southwestern Medical Center and Children's Medical Center of Dallas of their legal obligations to provide care. The baby, named Gabriel, was placed in a neonatal intensive care unit where doctors were expected to perform surgery.
Single source · Not corroborated
McKenna West, a surrogate mother, traveled to Texas after the baby she was carrying was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a serious congenital heart condition, at around 20 weeks of pregnancy. According to Paxton's office, the biological parents asked West to have an abortion following the diagnosis. West declined and relocated to Texas.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's office formally notified UT Southwestern Medical Center and Children's Medical Center of Dallas of their legal obligations to provide what Paxton described as "medically necessary, life-saving care upon birth." Paxton's office stated that it secured a court order to ensure the child would receive care even after the biological parents declined to consent to surgery following the birth.
Gabriel was born on Wednesday, according to Fox News, and was transferred to a neonatal intensive care unit. Fox News reported that the hospital where surgery would likely be performed has a 100% success rate on the relevant procedure.