Patriot Conceptions clarifies role in CBS surrogacy report

Patriot Conceptions said Tuesday it facilitated the surrogacy journey featured in a CBS News report about intended parent Xu Bo, but was not his only agency. The Irvine-based firm also outlined its screening process, communication practices and limits on what it can independently verify.

Why it matters: - Patriot Conceptions is trying to separate its own work from broader surrogacy arrangements tied to intended parent Xu Bo. - The statement lands as questions continue over screening, disclosure and how much information surrogates receive before agreeing to proceed. - The agency says accurate attribution matters for both the public record and the surrogate involved.

What happened: - Patriot Conceptions issued a statement on Sept. 17, 2026, addressing CBS News reporting involving Xu Bo. - The agency said it facilitated the surrogacy journey featured in the report. - Patriot Conceptions said it was not Xu’s sole surrogacy agency. - Haotian Bai, founder and CEO of Patriot Conceptions, said the surrogate’s concerns deserve to be taken seriously and that reporting should distinguish between the agency’s role and arrangements it did not facilitate.

The details: - As of Sept. 17, 2026, Patriot Conceptions said it has one active case with Xu Bo. - The company said it did not arrange or coordinate earlier surrogacy journeys through other providers described in the reporting. - Patriot Conceptions said its involvement in the featured journey should not be confused with responsibility for Xu’s wider reported surrogacy arrangements or unrelated cases involving other providers. - The company said the WeChat exchange discussed in connection with the featured journey was between the surrogate and Xu’s representative, not a Patriot Conceptions employee. - Patriot Conceptions said it remains available to answer questions about its own communications and coordination. - The company said it explained Xu’s preference for privacy and his unwillingness to meet, and the surrogate said she was willing to proceed on that basis. - Patriot Conceptions said it did not know the wider scale of Xu’s family described in later public reporting. - Bai said the company respects the surrogate’s right to speak publicly about her experience. - Patriot Conceptions said its response is intended to explain its role and the information available at the relevant times without publicly disclosing her private records or questioning her motives. - The agency said its screening approach combines detailed intended-parent intake, third-party background screening and review of financial information. - The current application asks about existing children, previous surrogacy experience, fertility-clinic involvement and expectations for communication during pregnancy and after delivery. - Patriot Conceptions said it also collects identity, contact, financial and supporting documentation for review. - The company said collecting information, independently verifying it and communicating relevant information to a surrogate are separate steps. - Patriot Conceptions said a client’s statement should not be treated as independently verified fact. - The company said a background report should not be treated as a complete account of a person’s family circumstances or arrangements with other providers.

Between the lines: - The statement appears aimed at narrowing the scope of any criticism to the agency’s own conduct rather than the wider surrogacy history reported by CBS News. - The company is also drawing a line between privacy and disclosure, arguing that surrogates need enough verified information to make informed decisions. - Bai framed the issue as one of process: what was asked, what was answered, what was checked, what was shared and what changed later. - The agency’s response suggests verification gaps can remain even when standard intake and background checks are used. - Bai also argued that a surrogate should not have to act as her own investigator to understand the arrangement.

What's next: - Patriot Conceptions said it wants journalists to submit specific factual questions about its involvement and practices. - The company said any supporting records it shares will be subject to privacy protections and authorization. - The agency said prospective surrogates should get clear explanations of verified information, unknowns and how to seek independent advice when circumstances change. - Patriot Conceptions said its full statement is available on the company website.

The bottom line: - Patriot Conceptions is publicly defending its screening process while trying to limit its responsibility to the specific journey it says it handled, not the broader set of surrogacy arrangements tied to Xu Bo. - The company is also arguing that privacy and full disclosure have to be balanced, not treated as competing goals.