--- title: "Surrogate Mother Sues for Custody After Refusing Abortion" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/surrogate-mother-sues-for-custody-after-refusing-abortion" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/surrogate-mother-sues-for-custody-after-refusing-abortion" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/surrogate-mother-sues-for-custody-after-refusing-abortion.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/surrogate-mother-sues-for-custody-after-refusing-abortion" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-08-23T00:45:37.059Z" source_reported: "2026-08-22T14:09:00.000Z" updated: "2026-08-23T00:45:37.059Z" trust_score: 76 critic_score: 95 hype_score: 55 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-23T01:45:23.165927+00:00" --- # Surrogate Mother Sues for Custody After Refusing Abortion *A legal battle is underway over a baby born in Texas after the surrogate mother refused the intended parents' request for an abortion.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 76 of 100, higher is better. Trust 76: multiple named sources, two independent full reports, specific figures and dates provided. - Craft 95 of 100, higher is better. Critic 95: explains relevance, includes quotes, clear facts, specific data, and outlines next legal steps. - Hype 55 of 100, lower is better. Hype 55: headlines and digests use sensational language, but core reporting remains factual. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - McKenna West gave birth to a baby in Texas on August 12, 2026, who was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. - The intended parents, Nasheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed, sued West for more than $100,000, alleging breach of contract after she refused their request for an abortion. - West named the child Gabriel, while the intended parents refer to him as Rumi, and she is seeking custody based on Texas law. - Texas law automatically grants legal parentage to the woman who gives birth, complicating the custody dispute. A legal dispute has emerged over a baby born in Texas on August 12, 2026. The surrogate mother, McKenna West, gave birth to a child diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a serious congenital heart defect. The intended parents, Nasheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed, had requested that West terminate the pregnancy after the diagnosis. West refused this request and travelled to Texas to give birth. Following the birth, Gilkar and Ahmed initiated legal action, suing West for more than $100,000 and alleging breach of contract. They also seek unspecified damages for what they describe as her "malicious, outrageous conduct." West has named the child Gabriel, while the intended parents refer to him as Rumi. The intended parents deny threatening to force West to undergo an abortion. ## Disagreement over the circumstances of the birth and custody claims The Reformatorisch Dagblad reported that West had signed a clause agreeing to a potential abortion, but that Texas law automatically grants parentage to the birth mother. This outlet also stated that the intended parents came to Texas and are caring for the baby, and that West has not been allowed to see the baby since birth. Fox News reported that West claims the baby was "ripped away" 60 seconds after birth and that she is continuing her legal fight. Punch Newspapers reported that West's lawyer stated she is seeking parentage because she gave birth in Texas, and that a reproductive law attorney previously told The Post that West has virtually no legal claim to the child. ## What the coverage left out None of the right-rated reports mention the $60,000 payment agreed upon between the intended parents and McKenna West for her surrogacy services, as detailed in the left-rated report. The left-rated report also does not mention the specific legal arguments or statements made by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, which were noted in the right-rated Reformatorisch Dagblad. ## Who covered it Shares of the 6 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 17% (1) - Centre: 0% (0) - Right: 83% (5) 0 of 6 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-23T01:45:23.165927+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 6 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-23T02:15:52.785Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left-rated report from Punch Newspapers focused on the lawsuit filed by the intended parents, Nasheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed, against surrogate mother McKenna West for more than $100,000. It detailed the couple's agreement, which included an abortion clause, and their request for termination after the baby was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. The report noted West's refusal and her subsequent travel to Texas to give birth. It also included statements from West's lawyer and a reproductive law attorney regarding West's legal standing. The intended parents denied threatening to force an abortion. The report also mentioned the baby's names, Gabriel and Rumi, and that the baby underwent lifesaving heart surgery. ### Centre No separate framing summary. ### Right - Right-rated reports from Reformatorisch Dagblad, NewsBusters, Alaska Watchman, National Catholic Register, and Fox News highlighted the conflict between the intended parents' desire for an abortion and the surrogate mother's refusal. Reformatorisch Dagblad framed the situation as a complex ethical and legal issue, quoting an ethicist who described the problems inherent in surrogacy and the potential for coercion. This report also noted the political polarisation surrounding the case in the US, with Texas's Republican Attorney General supporting West. NewsBusters and National Catholic Register focused on the lawsuit and the surrogate's refusal to abort due to the baby's heart condition. Alaska Watchman likened the attempt to force an abortion to slavery. Fox News reported West's claim that the baby was taken from her shortly after birth and that she is continuing her legal fight. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - low: 1 - mixed: 4 - high: 1 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [NewsBusters](https://newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/alex-christy/2026/08/22/murray-questions-choice-after-surrogate-mother-chooses-not-get) — Murray Questions Choice After Surrogate Mother Chooses NOT To Get an Abortion - [Reformatorisch Dagblad](https://rd.nl/a/1160094-de-wensouders-wilden-een-abortus-de-draagmoeder-niet-van-wie-is-de-baby-nu) — The Prospective Parents Wanted an Abortion, the Surrogate Mother Did Not; Whose Baby Is It Now? - [Alaska Watchman](https://alaskawatchman.com/2026/08/21/opinion-attempt-to-force-surrogate-alaska-mom-to-abort-pre-born-baby-is-human-slavery) — Attempt to force surrogate Alaska mom to abort pre-born baby is akin to slavery - [National Catholic Register](https://ncregister.com/cna/surrogate-mother-faces-100-000-lawsuit-from-biological-parents-for-refusing-to-abort-baby) — Surrogate Mother Faces $100,000 Lawsuit From Biological Parents for Refusing to Abort Baby - [Punch Newspapers](https://punchng.com/parents-sue-surrogate-mother-for-100000-after-she-refuses-abortion-request) — Parents sue surrogate mother for $100,000 after she refuses abortion request - [Fox News](https://foxnews.com/us/surrogate-says-baby-ripped-away-60-seconds-after-birth-custody-fight-erupts-after-abortion-refusal) — Surrogate says baby 'ripped away' 60 seconds after birth as custody fight erupts after abortion refusal ## Questions **Who are the intended parents and the surrogate mother?** The intended parents are Nasheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed. The surrogate mother who gave birth in Texas is McKenna West. The baby was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. **Why are the intended parents suing the surrogate mother?** The intended parents are suing McKenna West for more than $100,000, alleging breach of contract. This action followed her refusal to terminate the pregnancy after the baby was diagnosed with a heart defect. **What is the legal situation regarding parentage in Texas?** Texas law automatically grants legal parentage to the woman who gives birth to a child. McKenna West is asserting her parental rights based on this law, while the intended parents are seeking custody through their lawsuit. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/surrogate-mother-sues-for-custody-after-refusing-abortion. 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