Integrity First

Compliance & Ethics

Our Commitment to Ethical Practice

SurroStudy was founded on a simple principle: evaluation should be independent.

That principle informs everything we do—our business model, our relationships, our documentation practices, and our professional boundaries.

We conduct evaluations without financial or professional relationships that compromise objectivity. We don’t receive referral fees from agencies. We don’t get bonuses from clinics based on approval rates. We don’t have business partnerships that create incentives to approve or deny particular cases. Our only revenue is direct payment for evaluation services. That structure keeps our assessments clean.

When the evaluator has a stake in whether you proceed with a match, a treatment, or a legal proceeding, the evaluation itself becomes less credible. Independence protects everyone—intended parents, gestational carriers, and professionals who rely on our documentation.

Informed consent isn’t just signing a form. It’s genuine understanding of what you’re agreeing to, the risks involved, and the alternatives available. Our evaluation process includes education. We explain the surrogacy process, discuss potential complications, and ensure you understand the legal and emotional framework.

You can decline evaluation. You can disagree with our findings. You can choose not to address concerns we raise. That’s your right. Our job is assessment and documentation. What you do with that information is up to you.

What We Protect

Information shared during evaluation is confidential. We don’t gossip. We don’t share details beyond what’s documented in reports. Systems are HIPAA-compliant and communication is encrypted.

Who Receives Reports

You designate who receives your report. Typically: you, your agency, your attorney, and the intended parents/legal team. We confirm consent for any third-party requests.

Limits

We have mandatory reporting obligations for child abuse, imminent danger to self/others, and legally compelled disclosures. These are rare but important to note.

Professional Standards

Our evaluation practices align with ASRM guidelines and professional standards for psychosocial assessment in third-party reproduction.

Understanding of the process and legal frameworks
Emotional preparedness and coping capacity
Support systems and relationships
Informed consent and decision-making capacity
Household stability and risk factors

State-Specific Requirements

Surrogacy laws vary dramatically by state. We stay current on state-specific requirements—whether it’s home evaluations, judicial approval, or specific documentation for parentage orders. When families work across jurisdictions, we tailor our evaluations to meet the most stringent requirements.

* Not Legal Advice: We’re not attorneys. We don’t interpret state law or draft contracts. We defer to attorneys and physicians for legal and medical questions respectively.

Our Boundaries

If you believe we conducted our evaluation unethically or violated professional standards, you have the right to complain. Most concerns can be resolved through direct communication.

Our Promise: We won’t change findings to satisfy business interests. We won’t alter documentation under pressure. Our credibility depends on maintaining integrity even when it’s uncomfortable.

Surrogacy law and practice evolve. We commit to ongoing education—participating in conferences and reviewing research to ensure our practices remain state-of-the-art.

Quality Improvement: We regularly review our processes and solicit feedback. When we make mistakes, we acknowledge them and learn from them.

Transparency About Limitations

What We Can't Promise

We can't guarantee evaluation results, predict journey outcomes, or promise successful pregnancies. The rest—healthy pregnancies, legal parentage orders—depends on factors beyond our scope.

What We Can Promise

Professional integrity, respect for all parties, and absolute commitment to ethical standards. We promise independence, thoroughness, and honest documentation.

Why Ethics Matter in Surrogacy

Surrogacy involves enormous stakes. People invest hundreds of thousands of dollars, months of their lives, and their deepest emotional hopes. Gestational carriers undergo medical procedures to help strangers become parents. When stakes are that high, cutting corners doesn’t just create legal risk—it creates human cost.

Following our call, we prepare a detailed report. This report is delivered to your agency or clinic and serves as a roadmap for your support team to ensure your needs are met throughout the pregnancy.