Aggregated News
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- In many ways, the US and Canada aren't that different. But there are important distinctions. And one Canadian law has created a cross-border black market that is potentially hazardous to women in the U.S.
Canada's Assisted Human Reproduction Act makes it illegal for anyone to sell biological material -- including sperm and ovarian eggs. Because the prohibition on compensation does not exist in the U.S., infertile Canadian couples often work through online donor egg companies based in this country, where a cycle of eggs can generate anywhere from $3,000 to more than $10,000.
For one young Jacksonville woman, the opportunity to help a childless Canadian couple have a baby seemed like a perfect kind of philanthropy. In exchange for $5,500, Kylee Gilman agreed to inject herself with hormones to prompt multi-egg ovulation, then travel to Toronto to have a doctor retrieve the eggs.
"It was a free trip up [to Toronto] and it's exciting," recalled Gilman. "I get to help somebody and you get paid for it. The whole thing just sounded good, and no risks."
Gilman...
Canada's Assisted Human Reproduction Act makes it illegal for anyone to sell biological material -- including sperm and ovarian eggs. Because the prohibition on compensation does not exist in the U.S., infertile Canadian couples often work through online donor egg companies based in this country, where a cycle of eggs can generate anywhere from $3,000 to more than $10,000.
For one young Jacksonville woman, the opportunity to help a childless Canadian couple have a baby seemed like a perfect kind of philanthropy. In exchange for $5,500, Kylee Gilman agreed to inject herself with hormones to prompt multi-egg ovulation, then travel to Toronto to have a doctor retrieve the eggs.
"It was a free trip up [to Toronto] and it's exciting," recalled Gilman. "I get to help somebody and you get paid for it. The whole thing just sounded good, and no risks."
Gilman...