Abstract: Is labor law an appropriate mechanism to regulate cross-border surrogacy? Work-related arguments concerning surrogacy usually convey support for the view that commercial surrogacy deserves some sort of remuneration. The talk focuses on the conceptualization of surrogacy as work, the surrogate as a worker, and on labor law, which should accordingly be assumed appropriate for regulating such markets. In order to do that, I analyse the purpose of labor law and the conceptual framework of work and worker and examine their applicability to the conduct of surrogacy arrangements.

Sharon Bassan, a bioethicist with a Ph.D. and JD in law, is currently a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Princeton University, with a joint appointment in the University Center for Human Values

Richard Storrow, Professor of Law at the City University of New York School of Law will respond.

Peter Singer, Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics will chair.