Australian couple abandon surrogate twin with Down's syndrome - but keep his sister

[Jessica.]

A SURROGATE mother has received donations from across the world to help with medical treatment for her six-month-old baby boy - after an Australian couple refused to take the baby on learning he had Down syndrome.

Pattharamon Janbua (21) was left to care for her critically ill son after the couple who could not have a baby paid her about €8,000 to be a surrogate mother.

The son, named Gammy, was separated from his twin sister, who is healthy and was taken by the Australians.

Six-month old Gammy is in hospital with a lung infection, and his 21-year-old Thai surrogate mother, Pattharamon Janbua, fears he will die unless he undergoes surgery for a congenital heart condition, Fairfax Media reports.

The unnamed couple used a surrogate after they were unable to conceive naturally. Ms Pattharamon became pregnant with twins and when tests at the four-month mark showed the baby boy, named Gammy, had Down syndrome the couple reportedly told her to have an abortion.

Ms Pattharamon, a Buddhist, refused.

Ms Pattharamon never met the couple. She is now desperately trying to raise money to care for Gammy, who has a congenital heart condition and is critically ill.

“I would like to tell Thai women — don’t get into this business as a surrogate. Don’t just think only for money ... if something goes wrong no one will help us and the baby will be abandoned from society, then we have to take responsibility for that,” she told Fairfax.

The family has set up a Hope for Gammy campaign to help fund the baby’s operations.

The campaign is reportedly being supported by Australian embassy staff in Bangkok. It has raised more than €40,000 so far.

Source (http://www.independent.ie/world-news/asia-pacific/australian-couple-abandon-surrogate-twin-with-downs-syndrome-but-keep-his-sister-30477034.html)

http://cdn1.independent.ie/incoming/article30477032.ece/0d418/ALTERNATES/h342/Gammy.jpg

http://cdn2.independent.ie/incoming/article30477033.ece/88959/ALTERNATES/w620/Gammy2.jpg

How very sad. :(

[arista]

Yes the Deal was to buy a Good Baby via Surrogate


Sign of The Times

[Jake.]

Yes the Deal was to buy a Good Baby


Sign of The Times

Any baby is a good baby no matter what the disability.. Just needs to go to a home with actual caring parents,

[arista]

Any baby is a good baby no matter what the disability.. Just needs to go to a home with actual caring parents,


Yes but in the Future
Ill baby's will will be terminated

[Jessica.]

Yes but in the Future
Ill baby's will will be terminated

She was already four months into the pregnancy when she was told to get the abortion, do you think aborting two babies after four months along is okay? :shrug:

[hijaxers]

http://cdn1.independent.ie/incoming/article30477032.ece/0d418/ALTERNATES/h342/Gammy.jpg

http://cdn2.independent.ie/incoming/article30477033.ece/88959/ALTERNATES/w620/Gammy2.jpg

How very sad. :(

Yes its very very sad ! but it is totally disgusting ! These people should be found. have the 'healthy' baby taken away (as they are not fit parents) i i really think they should both do time in jail - What a pair of selfish bastards !! Makes me sick to my stomach - just who the hell do these people think they are ? No child deserves parents like this - Shame on both of you:nono::nono::nono::nono::nono::nono::nono::nono ::nono:

[Vanessa]

All babies are a blessing. It doesn't matter what they look like. Both babies are cute, by the way. :nono:

[Shaun]

Revolting people.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Couple paid for a healthy baby. You go into this stuff and the veil slips on intentions. I agree with Arista. This is why its illegal in most parts of Oz

[Benjamin]

What disgusting people. I hope one day karma catches up with them and deals them the suffering they deserve.

[Crimson Dynamo]

What disgusting people. I hope one day karma catches up with them and deals them the suffering they deserve.

There is no such thing as karma

[Kazanne]

Oh,this is really sad,just seen it on the news,that poor little boy and so cute,people are so selfish,how cruel to separate him from his sister,whoever has taken that little girl should be ashamed of themselves for discarding this little fella.

[Benjamin]

There is no such thing as karma

Oh a non believer. Poor you :(

[Redway]

Yes the Deal was to buy a Good Baby via Surrogate


Sign of The Times

Yes but in the Future
Ill baby's will will be terminated

For one thing Down Syndrome is absolutely not an illness or disease of any sort. And the fact that you think it's acceptable to view babies with disabilities as inferior or not good is disgusting.

[Tom4784]

I feel sorry for the girl, imagine being raised by those *****. At least the boy has a family that loves him unconditionally.

[lostalex]

so the baby is not even biologically(genetically) related to this woman, but she loves it more than the biological parents who were supposedly so "desperate" for children that they are using surrogacy. That's really upsetting. Surrogacy definitely raises many ethical issues, like for instance, what if the surrogate wanted to have an abortion? or what if the biological parents wanted her to have an abortion, lots of interesting dilemmas with surrogacy.

[Bluerang1]

I mean they told her not to have the baby :/ This is weird.

[lostalex]

I mean they told her not to have the baby :/ This is weird.

is it ever okay to TELL a woman to have a baby or not have a baby? I think the bottom line is it's her body, and she shoUld make the decision. UI'm glad this baby, has foUnd someone to love him, whether he is hers biologically or not, UI'm jUst happy that it has a happy ending, becaUse **** those biological parents, imagine when his sister finds oUt that their parents abandoned him. UI hope his sister some day also realizes that their parents did.

UHe's a beaUYtiofUl little boy. (sorry my keyboard is ****ed Up tonight)

[the truth]

the rules need to be tightened up on this as do the agreement and the ethics and legality around these agreements need to be discussed at length in parliaments. disgusting people. this is the ultimate form of discrimination. as for children with disabilities, most of the kids ive worked with , who have disabilities are far more fun and pleasurable to work with than the majority of non disabled kids. they seem to have more appreciation of life and the abilities they do have. its one of lifes strange idiosyncracies. those who seem to have it all often turn out spoilt aloof arrogant and self centred and plain miserable. like icarus maybe they fly too close to the sun...

[Jessica.]

I mean they told her not to have the baby :/ This is weird.

She was already FOUR months pregnant when they told her to kill both of the babies. :conf: Do you think that's okay?

[the truth]

She was already FOUR months pregnant when they told her to kill both of the babies. :conf: Do you think that's okay?

people , especially in rich countries are getting greedier and more seflish. thats why millions of babies are needlessly murdered in the womb (exclusing rape or ill health reasons millions are still killed off) spoilt people who want designer babies and no hassle or responsibilities

[Ammi]

..I agree with Dezzy that Gammy will have the chance of parents who love him and have the necessary coping skills..it's really wrong that they were allowed to separate the siblings though..why did the surrogate mother still give them the female twin....there is a chance that the siblings will never know of each ones existence until adulthood...how sad and wrong...

[arista]

..I agree with Dezzy that Gammy will have the chance of parents who love him and have the necessary coping skills..it's really wrong that they were allowed to separate the siblings though..why did the surrogate mother still give them the female twin....there is a chance that the siblings will never know of each ones existence until adulthood...how sad and wrong...


So typical of buying a womb to rent

[AnnieK]

So typical of buying a womb to rent

Surrogacy is usually a wonderful and selfless act but this situation goes to show just what pitfalls people can face

[lostalex]

Surrogacy is usually a wonderful and selfless act but this situation goes to show just what pitfalls people can face

that's right Kizzy. good post. This is a very sensational story, but most surrogate stories aren't like this. you are very level headed on this issue.

[Benjamin]

The Australian couple accused of abandoning a baby born with Down's syndrome to a Thai surrogate mother say they wanted to take him home.

David and Wendy Farnell, speaking publicly for the first time, insisted the Thai mother would not hand over Gammy, the seven-month-old baby boy.

They did take his twin sister. They say they will fight to get Gammy back.

The surrogate mother says the couple deliberately left Gammy behind because of his disabilities.

The couple, which denies this, had earlier told Australian media they did not know of his existence, and that Pattharamon Chanbua, 21, was lying.

In an exclusive interview on Australia's Channel Nine on Sunday, David Farnell said: "We did not abandon our son.

"The surrogate mother - it is her choice if she wants to give you the baby or not give you the baby. Although you have a surrogacy agreement, it really doesn't mean anything. It is her decision, and our surrogate mother said that she wanted to keep the baby boy."

David Farnell was also rigorously questioned during the TV interview about his criminal past, and he insisted he was no longer a danger to young girls, says the BBC's Phil Mercer in Sydney.

Farnell was jailed in the 1990s for a series of offences against children.

Officials say they have now managed to reach the couple, but have no major concerns at present.

Ms Chanbua said the couple had asked her to have an abortion when she was told of the child's condition four months after becoming pregnant.

She said she refused, as it was against her Buddhist beliefs. Abortion on the grounds of foetal impairment is illegal in Thailand.

Besides Down's syndrome, Gammy has a congenital heart condition and a lung infection.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-28732511

[Cherie]

I do believe in Karma and down the road this decision will come back to haunt the selfish bastards and rightly so. Oops just read Bens post, I wonder if they had a change of heart, why would the surrogate not hand over the child, I assume she was paid.

[Kizzy]

'David Farnell was also rigorously questioned during the TV interview about his criminal past, and he insisted he was no longer a danger to young girls, says the BBC's Phil Mercer in Sydney.'

'Farnell was jailed in the 1990s for a series of offences against children.'

My good god... :/

[anne666]

Gammy's surrogate mother will not allow David and Wendy Farnell to take her baby boy

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/world/gammys-surrogate-mother-will-not-allow-david-and-wendy-farnell-to-take-her-baby-boy-20140811-102kvm.html#ixzz3AStlvozn

They have changed their story since the OP.

The sixty minutes interview with the Australian couple broadcast on Sunday.

http://sixtyminutes.ninemsn.com.au/videoindex.aspx

From the interview
http://www.theage.com.au/world/david-and-wendy-farnell-demanded-refund-for-gammy-20140810-102kpn.html

He also said in the interview he was relieved when the surrogate said she would keep the baby boy, that this may work.

This is the third version of their story.

The first. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/11009875/Australian-couple-deny-abandoning-surrogate-baby-in-Thailand.html

The second

http://www.smh.com.au/national/gammys-parents-reveal-their-side-of-the-story-20140805-100ngq.html


The baby does not have "life threatening heart disease"

http://www.straitstimes.com/news/asia/south-east-asia/story/thai-hospital-says-baby-gammy-has-no-life-threatening-heart-disease-



Baby Gammy: WA Health Minister Kim Hames apologises for 'inappropriate' comments about father David Farnell


http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-11/health-minister-apologises-for-gammy-father-comments/5663814

Something stinks here and there are two innocent children in the middle of it all.

[anne666]

'David Farnell was also rigorously questioned during the TV interview about his criminal past, and he insisted he was no longer a danger to young girls, says the BBC's Phil Mercer in Sydney.'

'Farnell was jailed in the 1990s for a series of offences against children.'

My good god... :/

Varying numbers of offences quoted 22 being the highest and the youngest little girl was 5 yrs old.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2717364/Australian-parents-Gammy-met-Chinese-mail-order-bride-agency.html

[arista]

Thats shocking that he can have a kid

[anne666]

Thats shocking that he can have a kid

He could have used a surrogate in Western Australia without any criminal record searches. They have woken up and are currently "reviewing" this disgraceful situation.

[Nedusa]

Any baby is a good baby no matter what the disability.. Just needs to go to a home with actual caring parents,

This is a very sad situation but it was also a business deal which stated healthy babies for large amounts of money ie hundreds of thousands of dollars.

So the couple spending this money would not be looking to adopt a disabled or partially abled baby.



.

[anne666]

This is a very sad situation but it was also a business deal which stated healthy babies for large amounts of money ie hundreds of thousands of dollars.

So the couple spending this money would not be looking to adopt a disabled or partially abled baby.



.

BIB. Where does it state that in any surrogacy agreement and the sum charged was 16,000 dollars not hundreds of thousands, which they still haven't fully paid. This isn't adoption in the traditional sense, the woman was carrying his own babies and that attitude stinks. He wanted everything his own way, it was too late to abort the downs baby, not that the surrogate would have and that is exactly what's caused this mess now. Did they even check what her stance was on abortion, no.

[Mystic Mock]

What awful Human Beings, and why the **** was someone with a past history of sexual assault against children allowed to adopt?

[arista]

What awful Human Beings, and why the **** was someone with a past history of sexual assault against children allowed to adopt?


Maybe its due to being Down Under