Baby M

Baby M was a famous legal case from the 1980s involving surrogacy and parental rights. A surrogate mother, Mary Beth Whitehead, agreed to carry a baby for a couple, William and Elizabeth Stern. After birth, Whitehead initially intended to keep the baby but later agreed to give him up. The Sterns, who wanted to be the child's legal parents, sought custody. The courts ultimately recognized the surrogate's rights and interests, ending with a decision that the Sterns would have custody, but the case raised complex questions about surrogacy agreements, parental rights, and the best interests of the child.