Despite the difficulties involved and an official ban, an increasing number of French people who cannot have children on their own are turning to various surrogacy and egg donation arrangements abroad. This seminar will provide answers to ethical concerns many have. French parents and academics, as well as American experts and an American surrogate will provide advice and share their personal experiences.

Prospective parents have control on many aspects of the journey, and being informed can allow them to make personal ethical decisions about each step. Rather than provide one set of rules, the seminar will explore ways to address specific issues, and provide advice on how to make your journey more in line with your ethical standards.

Among the topics discussed will be:

1. Possible steps to make sure all parties, including surrogate and egg donor, are fully protected and informed of the choices they make.
   

2. Steps you can take to insure that the process is not like a commercial transaction, but a long relationship between the family who gets created and a whole family that is fully motivated to help them achieve their goal.
   

3. Steps you can take to fully consider the long term well being of the surrogacy children
   

The panel will include (in alphabetical order):

1. 

   Alexandre Urwicz and Hervé, French parents and co-presidents of ADFH hosting this seminar;
   

2. Coleen Iversen, an American surrogate who will discuss her experience, motivations, and relationship with the parents.
   

3. 

   Dominique Mennesson, a French parent and the presidents of CLARA, who will share the difficulties of getting French citizenship and parental rights for surrogacy children. 
   

4. Irène Théry, a French sociologist who will speak about societal aspects and the evolution of surrogacy comprehension in France.
   

5. 

   Karen Synesiou  of Center for Surrogate Parenting, who will provide a historical overview of surrogacy and discuss the process of matching prospective parents with surrogates.
   
6. 

   Dr. Kim Bergman from Growing Generations, a psychologist specializing in parenting by choice and third party assisted reproduction, who will discuss the relationships between the parties and the support that is available to them.
   
7. 

   Dr. Michael Doyle of CT Fertility Associates,an IVF expert who will discuss decisions related to the IVF and egg donation processes.