A citizen proposal advocating for Danish healthcare professionals to assist with fertilization in altruistic surrogacy cases has garnered over 50,000 signatures, ensuring its consideration in the Danish Parliament (Folketinget). The proposal, initiated by seven women who have all voluntarily carried children for childless couples without financial compensation, seeks to establish a safe, domestic framework for altruistic surrogacy. The Parliament confirmed this development in a news release on its website.

Currently, while altruistic surrogacy is legal in Denmark, Danish healthcare professionals are prohibited from assisting with fertilization, forcing individuals to seek solutions abroad. The proposal aims to rectify this situation.

The citizen proposal was published on June 2nd and quickly gained the required signatures by Wednesday.

The earliest date the proposal can be presented in Parliament is October 7th, marking the start of the next parliamentary year.

The proposers state that they hope Denmark will take responsibility for creating a suitable model for altruistic surrogacy. They argue this would create a safe framework for the involved families within the country.

The Danish Council of Ethics issued a statement in January 2023, supporting the allowance of healthcare professional involvement in altruistic surrogacy. A significant majority of the council recommended revising the existing regulations.

The Moderates, a ruling party, recently highlighted the issue and in June proposed enabling altruistic surrogate mothers to undergo fertilization in Denmark. According to Rosa Eriksen, the health spokesperson for the Moderates, if a woman is willing to carry a child for someone, she is forced to go abroad for insemination. Eriksen emphasized that the Moderates’ proposal is independent and not necessarily endorsed by the rest of the government.