Hidden Dangers: The Dark Side of IVF Centers & Child Trafficking

Investigations uncover links between IVF centers & child trafficking. Legal scrutiny intensifies amid arrests & calls for regulation.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is currently scrutinizing numerous fertility centers following a child trafficking case that highlighted illegal practices within these establishments. The investigation unveiled a criminal network acquiring infants from surrogate mothers, casting a shadow on several clinics suspected of operating unlawfully.

Illegal fertility services and the trafficking of newborns appear to be thriving under the guise of IVF centers. Concerns have been raised regarding newborns being sold to organized syndicates that engage in illicit organ transplantation and forced begging.

The Surrogacy (Regulation) Act of 2021, which prohibits commercial surrogacy, is a legislative solution to address these immoral activities. The Act restricts surrogacy to married couples who are unable to conceive naturally and states that surrogate mothers can only be reimbursed for medical and insurance expenditures, with no further remuneration.

The recent government inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the artificial fertilization of slain musician Sidhu Moose Wala’s mother also falls under this scrutiny. This followed several law enforcement actions against illicit IVF operations, including a notable incident in April 2022 when six individuals were arrested for trafficking babies. This group, including two employees from a Greater Noida IVF center, allegedly misled a client with promises of legally adopting a baby boy, only to engage in fraudulent activities.

Moreover, in September of the same year, the proprietor of an IVF clinic was arrested after a patient died during a procedure at a facility in Eco-Village 2, where it was discovered, that the doctor had a falsified medical degree.

Further police efforts uncovered multiple rackets attempting to circumvent Indian laws by arranging trips abroad for sex selection procedures, which are prohibited in India. These operations misleadingly charged substantial fees for arranging such services in countries where these practices are legal.

These ongoing investigations and arrests are part of a broader effort to clamp down on the exploitation of reproductive technologies and protect vulnerable individuals from being drawn into criminal activities.

Source: Inputs from various media Sources