California couple’s surrogate gives birth in Texas after judge orders life-saving care

Key Points:

• A California surrogate, McKenna West, gave birth in Texas to a baby diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) after a judge ordered life-sustaining care for the newborn amid a legal dispute with the intended parents.
• The surrogate alleges the California couple pressured her to abort the fetus after the diagnosis, while the couple denies intending to refuse surgery and claims West breached their surrogacy contract.
• Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton intervened in support of the surrogate, leading to a court order mandating medical treatment for the infant, who is receiving stabilizing care and scheduled for surgery.
• HLHS is a severe congenital heart defect requiring multiple complex surgeries; without treatment, affected infants often die within weeks, though surgery is not always curative.
• Legal experts note that while surrogacy contracts address medical decisions, such agreements are often unenforceable, and Texas law prioritizes the child's best interests, allowing courts to mandate life-saving care.