The case of a California couple recently accused of abusing children born to surrogates exposes the pitfalls of an industry one expert described as the "wild west."Guojun Xuan, 66, and his wife, Silvia Zhang, 39, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit child abuse.Authorities said the couple operated their own surrogacy agency out of their home in Arcadia, California."I say it all the time.
It's the wild, Wild West," Kallie Fell, executive director of the Center for Bioethics and Culture, told Fox News Digital.SURROGATE WHO REFUSED ABORTION TAKES FIGHT TO SUPREME COURT AS BABY'S LIFE HANGS IN BALANCEGuojun Xuan and Silvia Zhang appeared for their arraignment in Pasadena, Calif., on Tuesday, on charges of abuse of at least 14 surrogate-born children, some as young as 2 months old, at an Arcadia mansion where they lived.(Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)Xuan and Zhang allegedly abused more than a dozen surrogate-born children — some as young as 2 months old — inside their multimillion-dollar Arcadia residence.Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman called the alleged abuse "appalling and revolting."OHIO MOM OF 16 CRADLES STOMACH IN COURT, PLEADS NOT GUILTY IN SEVERE ABUSE CASE INVOLVING OWN CHILDRENA recent case where a California couple was charged for alleged child abuse, involving mostly children born to surrogates, highlights lack of state oversight and safeguards for children in the surrogacy industry, one expert said.
(Getty Images)"This was not a home where these children were loved and nurtured," Hochman said when announcing the charges."This was a home where these young children were systematically beaten and punished if they did not do what they were told."In addition to the alleged abuse, the couple operated Future Spring Surrogacy from their home, recruiting surrogates and paying them tens of thousands of dollars.
At least eight surrogates reported aggressive tactics and false statements regarding the family's living situati...