Texas Case: Surrogate, Parents in Parental-Rights Battle

A California couple’s surrogate, McKenna West, traveled to Texas to give birth to their baby after learning at 20 weeks that the fetus had hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a treatable but life-threatening condition. The intended parents had sought termination of the pregnancy, arguing the contract allowed abortion for fetal anomalies, but West refused and the case evolved into a high-profile multi-state dispute over parental rights and medical decisions. Texas authorities issued life-saving treatment orders for the newborn and a temporary restraining order blocking the surrogate from making medical or custody decisions or seeing the child. The baby, named Gabriel, is in the care of the biological parents in Texas, while the surrogate remains in a hospital and out of direct decision-making under court orders. Legal filings span Alaska, California, and Texas, illustrating a battle over who holds parental rights and who controls medical decisions. The dispute has drawn national attention to surrogacy contracts, medical ethics, and state-law claims on parental authority as Gabriel’s treatment progresses.