Frontline Season 5 Episode 6

Frontline Season 5 Episode 6 Desperately Seeking Baby

  • March 3, 1987
  • 17 min

Desperately Seeking Baby is the sixth episode of the fifth season of Frontline. The episode sheds light on the desperate measures that some couples go through in order to have a baby. The center of the episode is Surrogacy for couples who are unable to conceive, be it due to infertility or other biological factors.

The documentary follows a few couples and individuals who are either considering surrogacy or have already taken the plunge. The unique situations of these individuals help the audience see how surrogacy is not a clear-cut solution. It comes with a range of challenges, both ethical and legal.

In one situation, a gay couple is shown who want to have a child together. They have found a woman who is willing to carry their child for them, but soon realize that the legal responsibility can be a nightmare. In most jurisdictions, a surrogate mother is considered the legal mother of the baby unless a legal agreement stating otherwise is signed. This is a major issue for the couple in question, as the surrogate mother later changes her mind and wants to keep the child.

The episode also follows the story of a woman who attempts to be a surrogate mother after having two successful pregnancies. She is shown researching the process involved in surrogacy, and the documentary captures her going through medical and psychological examinations in order to be eligible. An important aspect of the episode is the ethical quandaries that come with surrogacy. Is it right for a woman to carry a child just for financial gain? Is it fair on the child to be separated from their biological mother? What binding contracts can be made to ensure that everyone involved is protected?

Several doctors and legal experts are interviewed to weigh in on the subject of surrogacy. The documentary highlights the different laws around surrogacy, both in the United States and abroad. Countries like India and Thailand have become popular destinations for surrogacy, given their lower costs. The episode reveals how some clinics in these countries have been exploiting women and their surrogacy programs have turned into “baby factories.”

The issue of surrogacy, medical ethics, and the rights of the child are all tackled in Desperately Seeking Baby. The documentary reveals how surrogacy can be a complicated solution when it comes to making a baby. The episode presents an emotionally charged perspective on a topic that is often clouded by moral uncertainty. The documentary show how involved the comity should be in checking on the rules and laws to make sure no one is exploited during the surrogacy process.

Overall, Desperately Seeking Baby is a thought-provoking program that offers insight into the complexities of surrogacy and the stories of the people involved in the process. The documentary is an engaging and well-executed exploration of a difficult issue, and it is highly recommended for anyone interested in the medical, ethical, and legal questions surrounding surrogacy.

Description
Watch Frontline - Desperately Seeking Baby (s5 e6) Online - Watch online anytime: Buy, Rent
Frontline, Season 5 Episode 6, is available to watch and stream on PBS. You can also buy, rent Frontline on demand at Prime Video online.
  • First Aired
    March 3, 1987
  • Runtime
    17 min
  • Language
    English