A same-sex couple is suing their surrogate for refusing to abort their now-2-year-old son over a minor birth defect — a case that's bad for the couple's public image and raises big questions about surrogacy contracts.

• A Canadian couple asked their surrogate to abort at 22 weeks after a scan showed a cleft lip and possible minor heart defect.
• She refused, saying she'd only end a pregnancy if the baby couldn't survive, not for a treatable, mostly cosmetic condition — and the healthy boy was born.
• After taking the child home, the couple cut off contact and stiffed her on about $10,000 in expenses she was owed.
• When she took the money dispute to court, she found the contract forced arbitration and was hit with a $600,000 lawsuit.
• Critics say this shows the danger of treating children like custom products that can be rejected for imperfections.

Outlook: The case heads to arbitration in Ontario, and the surrogate faces a costly legal fight over the contract's terms.