Surrogate

Meaning:

A surrogate, in its broadest sense, is an entity or individual appointed to act on behalf of another party, often assuming certain responsibilities or roles. This concept finds application across various domains, including law, reproduction, and research. In reproductive terms, a surrogate typically refers to a woman who carries a pregnancy to term on behalf of another individual or couple, commonly known as intended parents. This arrangement may be facilitated through gestational surrogacy, where the surrogate carries an embryo created through in vitro fertilization (IVF) using the intended parents' genetic material or donated gametes. Traditional surrogacy involves the surrogate also contributing her own egg, resulting in a genetic relationship with the child.

Legally, a surrogate may serve as a representative or agent for another person or entity, such as in the case of a surrogate decision-maker appointed to make medical or financial decisions for an incapacitated individual. This role requires a high level of trust and often involves adhering to specific legal protocols to ensure the best interests of the individual being represented. In research, surrogate endpoints are used as substitute measures to predict clinical outcomes in clinical trials when direct measurement of the primary endpoint is impractical or time-consuming. These surrogates should ideally have a strong correlation with the true clinical outcome, enabling researchers to make informed decisions about the efficacy and safety of interventions based on these surrogate markers. Overall, the concept of a surrogate embodies the idea of delegation or substitution, whether in matters of reproduction, law, or scientific inquiry, with the surrogate assuming responsibilities or roles on behalf of others.