'Moral responsibility' must determine fate of baby abandoned in Thailand
Australia's Immigration Minister says "moral responsibility" should determine fate of baby born with Down's syndrome, reportedly abandoned by Australian couple with surrogate mother in Thailand.
Australia's Immigration Minister Scott Morrison said yesterday a question of "moral responsibility" should determine the fate of a baby born with Down's syndrome, reportedly abandoned by an Australian couple with its surrogate mother in Thailand.
Morrison's comments came as funds raised online by an Australian charity to pay for the baby's medical care rose above US$190,000 after a flood of international goodwill over the infant's plight.
The boy, Gammy, and a twin sister were born to Thai woman Pattaramon Chanbua in December after she was reportedly paid A$16,000 (HK$115,520) to be a surrogate.
An unnamed Australian couple took the sister, who was healthy, but left Gammy behind, according to media reports.
[The baby is] still very ill and suffering from a lung infection at the moment
The baby boy also suffers from a life-threatening heart condition, and 21-year-old Pattaramon had earlier said she could not afford to pay for the medical treatment he needs.
"This is an absolutely heartbreaking story, it really is," Morrison told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.