A baby at the centre of a dispute over surrogacy has been born in Texas after the woman carrying him, McKenna West, refused the intended biological parents’ request to terminate the pregnancy. The case has highlighted competing questions about a surrogate’s bodily autonomy, the enforceability of surrogacy contracts and decisions over treatment for a child with a serious medical condition.

West, an Alaska nurse and mother of two, was carrying the child for a California couple when he was diagnosed before birth with a heart defect reported to be treatable through specialist care. She reportedly moved to Texas, where the baby could receive treatment after delivery, while the intended parents pursued legal action over parental rights and alleged financial losses; West sought custody and opposed the abortion request. The parties’ dispute over the child’s future care and legal parentage remained unresolved.