An IVF clinic in Australia has acknowledged that an error resulted in a woman giving birth to a baby that was not biologically hers. The Brisbane-based Monash IVF clinic revealed that due to human error, an embryo from one patient was mistakenly transferred to another, who subsequently gave birth.
Michael Knaap, the chief executive of Monash IVF, expressed remorse in a statement, apologizing for the incident on behalf of the clinic. He emphasized the profound impact the mistake has had on all parties involved and reassured that the clinic would continue to offer support to the affected families during this challenging period.
The error came to light in February when the parents of the child requested the transfer of their remaining stored embryos to another IVF facility. When staff discovered an unexpected additional embryo, an investigation was promptly initiated. It was found that an embryo belonging to a different patient had been erroneously thawed and transferred.
The investigation concluded that despite the presence of stringent laboratory safety measures, which included multiple verification steps, human error had occurred. Monash IVF disclosed that they informed the affected patients within a week, providing an apology and offering support. The clinic also reported the incident to regulatory authorities. To preserve the privacy of those involved, the identities of the patients and child have not been revealed.
Australia’s Social Services Minister, Amanda Rishworth, stressed the importance of restoring public confidence following the embryo mix-up. Speaking to Channel Nine television, she expressed her personal empathy, noting the emotional turmoil that the families must be experiencing.
Queensland Health indicated that it became aware of the mistake in February, though the error occurred before it assumed the role of the state’s assisted reproductive technology regulator in September 2024. The department committed to collaborating with Monash IVF to strengthen safeguards at their Queensland clinics and to ensure that any potential risks are addressed.
In a related matter, Monash IVF had agreed in August of the previous year to a settlement of Aus$56 million (US$36 million) to conclude a class action lawsuit. The legal action alleged that the clinic might have destroyed viable embryos due to inaccurate genetic testing results, which mistakenly identified them as abnormal. This settlement was reached without an admission of liability by Monash IVF.
