Surrogacy dispute over medical decisions reaches U.S. Supreme Court

A multi-state legal battle has emerged involving McKenna West, an Alaskan surrogate mother, and intended parents Omar Ahmed and Nausheen Gilkar. The dispute began after the fetus was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a congenital condition where the left side of the heart is underdeveloped.

Following the diagnosis, the intended parents requested that West terminate the pregnancy. West refused and traveled to Texas to give birth, seeking to obtain sole conservatorship to make medical decisions for the infant, referred to as Baby Gabriel or Rumi. While a California court has recognized Ahmed and Gilkar as the legal parents, a Texas judge recently denied West’s bid for custody.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton intervened in the case, and a Dallas judge ordered that the infant remain in Texas pending a final decision. Attorneys for West have filed a request for the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene, seeking a stay to preserve the status quo and allow her to advocate for the child’s rights.