Baby Brokers
Summary
Frontline correspondent Gabrielle Glazer investigates the exploitative "baby broker" industry, where vulnerable pregnant women are lured to states with lax laws like Utah for quick adoptions. The episode highlights cases of coercion, cash inducements, and the trafficking of Marshallese women, exposing a multi-billion dollar market that prioritizes profit over ethics. It concludes by calling for federal oversight to replace the current patchwork of state regulations.
Topics discussed
Introduction and funding credits
The rise of adoption tourism and online advertising
Case study: Tia Goins' pressured adoption experience
Utah's lax laws and the 'forum shopping' phenomenon
Exploitation tactics: Housing threats and cash incentives
Agency scrutiny and the debate over cash payments
Ethical concerns and legislative hearings in Utah
Financial exploitation of adoptive parents
The Paul Peterson 'baby mill' investigation
Legal challenges and exploitation in Arkansas
Calls for federal regulation and conclusion
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