Texas surrogate fights for custody of baby after refusing abortion request

A surrogate who refused an abortion request from the couple who hired her has asked the US Supreme Court to intervene in a custody dispute over the baby, according to a report by BBC.

McKenna West filed an emergency appeal to halt a ruling granting parental rights to California couple Omar Ahmed and Nausheen Gilkar, who had requested an abortion after a scan showed the foetus had hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

West instead travelled to Texas, where she gave birth. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton intervened, securing an order for the baby to receive medical care in the state.

West argued the biological parents might not provide necessary care, while Gilkar previously described the baby as “the love of our lives.” A California court granted the couple parental rights, while a Texas court barred West from seeing the child, who was reportedly in critical condition last month.