{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,9]],"date-time":"2026-06-09T13:09:42Z","timestamp":1781010582615,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":24,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,14]],"date-time":"2026-05-14T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1778716800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/page\/policies\/text-and-data-mining-license"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["journals.sagepub.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Med Leg J"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,6]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>Thailand\u2019s recent legalisation of same-sex marriage marks a historic milestone in Southeast Asia yet falls short of achieving full reproductive equality. Same-sex couples remain excluded by restrictive surrogacy laws, developed in 2015, which only allow altruistic arrangements for married heterosexual couples. Proposed legal amendments aim to expand access to the healthcare system and surrogacy while hospital-based maternity and neonatal care remain critically unprepared. This paper discusses the gap between legal progress and clinical readiness, arguing that without national standardised surrogacy birth care guidelines, hospitals risk perpetuating inequality and confusion during one of life\u2019s most sensitive moments. Drawing on international experience, the discussion highlights the need for inclusive protocols, staff training and ethical guidance. To realise the health equity potential of recent legal reforms, Thailand should incorporate surrogacy birth care into national healthcare guidelines and clinical pathways, advancing inclusive and standardised care across the health system.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1177\/00258172261441037","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,14]],"date-time":"2026-05-14T11:20:56Z","timestamp":1778757656000},"page":"94-97","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/sage-journals-update-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Marriage equality is not enough: The need for surrogacy-specific clinical guidance in Thailand"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"94","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7683-2290","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jutharat","family":"Attawet","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Australia"},{"name":"Department of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Evie","family":"Kendal","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biomedical, Health and Exercise Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Wareerat","family":"Jittitaworn","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Kuakarun Faculty of Nursing, Navamindradhiraj University, Bangkok, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mark","family":"Brady","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Law, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,14]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_3_2_2_2","unstructured":"Thailand Law Online. Civil and Commercial Code Amendment Act (No. 24) 2567 BE (Marriage Equality Act) [Internet]. Available at: https:\/\/www.thailandlawonline.com\/translations\/marriage-equality-act-amendment-act-no-24-b-e-2567 (accessed 11 December 2026)."},{"key":"e_1_3_2_3_2","unstructured":"The Government Public Relations Department. Thailand\u2019s Marriage Equality Law takes effect January 22 Thailand. The Government Public Relations Department https:\/\/thailand.prd.go.th\/en\/content\/category\/detail\/id\/52\/iid\/355315 (2025 accessed 20 April 2025)."},{"key":"e_1_3_2_4_2","unstructured":"Thongrompo T Chaisarnseri S Cheong I et al. A new era for LGBTQ+ rights: Thailand enforces same-sex marriage registration Singapore Withers https:\/\/www.withersworldwide.com\/en-gb\/insight\/read\/a-new-era-for-lgbtq-rights-thailand-enforces-same-sex-marriage-registration (2025 accessed 3 April 2025)."},{"key":"e_1_3_2_5_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1179558117749603"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_6_2","volume-title":"Clin Med Insights Reprod Health","author":"Protection of A Child Born by Medically Assisted Reproductive Technology Act, B.E","unstructured":"Stasi A. Protection of A Child Born by Medically Assisted Reproductive Technology Act, B.E. 2558: The Changing Profile of Surrogacy in Thailand. Clin Med Insights Reprod Health. 2017; 11: 1179558117749603. DOI: 10.1177\/1179558117749603."},{"key":"e_1_3_2_7_2","unstructured":"Bangkok Post. Thai health ministry to overhaul law on surrogacy Thailand Bangkok Post https:\/\/www.bangkokpost.com\/thailand\/general\/2939872\/thai-health-ministry-to-overhaul-law-on-surrogacy (2025 accessed 20 April 2025)."},{"key":"e_1_3_2_8_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1097\/ANS.0000000000000258"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_9_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/07399332.2024.2303520"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_10_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/14647273.2020.1870171"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_11_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rbmo.2013.03.016"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_12_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1066480714565107"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_13_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rbmo.2013.06.006"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_14_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fertnstert.2018.11.029"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_15_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/aogs.13456"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_16_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.wombi.2025.102154"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_17_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1097\/NMC.0000000000000919"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_18_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4103\/jehp.jehp_437_21"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_19_2","unstructured":"Vichitsukon K. Ten steps to successful breastfeeding [In Thai] https:\/\/library.thaibf.com\/handle\/023548404.11\/553 (2021 accessed 4 April 2025)."},{"key":"e_1_3_2_20_2","volume-title":"Care in surrogacy: practice, ethics and regulations","author":"Edwards E","year":"2023","unstructured":"Edwards E, Jones S, Kenwright E, et al. Care in surrogacy: practice, ethics and regulations. International Journal of Birth and Parent Education, 2023."},{"key":"e_1_3_2_21_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.37464\/2024.414.2130"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_22_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.55374\/jseamed.v6i0.134"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_23_2","unstructured":"Department of Health and Social Care. Guidance: care in surrogacy: guidance for the care of surrogates and intended parents in surrogate births in England and Wales UK Department of Health and Social Care https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/having-a-child-through-surrogacy\/care-in-surrogacy-guidance-for-the-care-of-surrogates-and-intended-parents-in-surrogate-births-in-england-and-wales (2024 accessed 13 August 2025)."},{"key":"e_1_3_2_24_2","volume-title":"The path to parenthood isn\u2019t always straight: a qualitative exploration of the experiences of gestational surrogacy for gay men in Canada \u2013 perspectives of gay fathers and surrogates","author":"Fantus S.","year":"2017","unstructured":"Fantus S. The path to parenthood isn\u2019t always straight: a qualitative exploration of the experiences of gestational surrogacy for gay men in Canada \u2013 perspectives of gay fathers and surrogates. Canada: University of Toronto, 2017."},{"issue":"10","key":"e_1_3_2_25_2","first-page":"746","article-title":"From research to practice: the example of antenatal care in Thailand","volume":"82","author":"Lumbiganon P","year":"2004","unstructured":"Lumbiganon P, Winiyakul N, Chongsomchai C, et al. From research to practice: the example of antenatal care in Thailand. 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