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Texas lawsuit seeks restraining order over surrogate abortion refusal

8/26/2026

33 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Nausheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed sued surrogate McKenna West in Texas.
The contract paid West $60,000 and allowed the parents to abort the pregnancy.
West refused the abortion, flew from Alaska to Texas, and gave birth on Aug. 12, 2026, naming the infant Rumi (Gabriel).
A restraining order bars West from seeing the baby, who remains in critical condition after surgery for left heart syndrome.

History

Historical Context

After the 1988 New Jersey Baby M case—where the state Supreme Court voided a paid surrogacy contract and granted custody to the biological father—states began tightening surrogacy laws. In August 2026 Texas, surrogate McKenna West refused the contract with Nausheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed, echoing Baby M’s precedent that courts may favor surrogate autonomy over agreements.

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Story summary

Nausheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed sued surrogate McKenna West in Texas.
The contract paid West $60,000 and allowed the parents to abort the pregnancy.
West refused the abortion, flew from Alaska to Texas, and gave birth on Aug. 12, 2026, naming the infant Rumi (Gabriel).
A restraining order bars West from seeing the baby, who remains in critical condition after surgery for left heart syndrome.

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