The Seminole County fertility clinic involved in an IVF mix-up is being sued again.
The plaintiff, who is also a surrogate, claims that the clinic implanted an embryo carrying a severe and life-threatening genetic disorder.
The newborn child suffered from thanatophoric dysplasia, which is a severe genetic anomaly that affects the growth and development of bones and lungs, according to the lawsuit.
Babies that have this condition either die in utero or shortly after being born. In this case, the plaintiff alleges the baby died about 10 days after birth.
The lawsuit states that an embryo with a fatal genetic disorder was transferred to the surrogate.
As a result of the fetus’s thanatophoric dysplasia, the document states that the surrogate experienced maternal complications, including:
- Symptomatic polyhydramnios
- Placental abnormalities
- Bleeding
- Painful preterm contractions
- Hospital admission and increased monitoring and supervision
- Gestational hypertension
The surrogate also claims that the biological parents agreed to pay her a certain sum of money. However, she was only partially paid.
The plaintiff, who was described as a relative of one of the biological parents, claims that they were aware she was psychologically unfit to serve as a surrogate and exploited her difficult financial circumstances.
Central Florida couple suing same clinic over IVF mix-up
A Central Florida couple filed an emergency lawsuit against a fertility clinic, alleging their newborn child was not genetically related to either of them after an in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure.
The couple is suing IVF Life, Inc. D/B/A Fertility Center of Orlando and Dr. Milton McNichol, M.D.
In a recent emergency motion, the couple’s attorneys identified two potential windows when the IVF mix-up could have occurred at the Fertility Center of Orlando in Longwood.
Documents indicate they are examining March 26, 2020, the date of the egg retrieval, and April 5, 2025, when Dr. Milton McNichol transferred the embryos.
The emergency motion states the clinic did not inform the attorneys that they had spoken to another woman who also had a transfer on the same day.
However, after seeing the story on the news, that patient reached out directly to the couple’s attorneys.
According to documents, this patient has a similar last name to the couple and resembles their baby girl.
Attorneys for the clinic said they “offered a proposed protocol to explain, in plain language, how the clinic will investigate the suspected or confirmed embryo transfer mix-up, while preserving evidence and safeguarding the privacy of all patients and children involved.”
View Article: https://www.wesh.com/article/seminole-county-ivf-clinic-sued-again-newborn-dies/70846862
