Is a natural parent's 'right' to a child considered to be in the best interests of the child?

Further, I do not agree that inquiry into the best interests of a child must await a determination that, because of surrender, abandonment, neglect or 'extraordinary' circumstances, a natural parent's 'rights' to a child are at an end. Willy-nilly, concern for the best interests of the child must play a central and unavoidable role in the resolution of such questions (cf. Matter of Gomez v. Lozado, 40 N.Y.2d 839, 387 N.Y.S.2d 834, 356 N.E.2d 287 (decided herewith)).