Monash IVF clinic's shocking mistake sees woman give birth to stranger's baby

Two families have been left heartbroken after a mistake by meant a to another couple’s embryo.

Monash IVF, based in , discovered the mistake when the birth parents requested their frozen embryos be transferred to another provider. Staff at the firm, which achieved the ’s first IVF in 1973, discovered an additional embryo remained in storage for the couple and began an investigation. The mistake has been put down to human error and both couples have received apologies, although they are both said to be heartbroken by the mistake and considering legal action.

READ MORE:

The mistake is believed to be the first of its kind in , reported. The firm said in a statement: “Monash IVF can confirm an incident has occurred at one of our clinics, where the embryo of one patient was incorrectly transferred to another patient resulting in the birth of a child.

“Despite these rigorous protocols, the initial investigation into the incident has found that it was the result of human error.

“Our focus is on supporting our patients through this extremely distressing time. We are devastated about what has happened and apologise to everyone involved.

“While we understand the public interest in this matter, the privacy of the families involved – including the child – has been our priority.

“The information we are providing now is being done in a de-identified way, with their knowledge.”

Australia news outlets reported the baby was born in Brisbane last year. Monash IVF didn't confirm how old the child was.

Ceo Michael Knaap ADDED: “All of us at Monash IVF are devastated and we apologise to everyone involved. We will continue to support the patients through this extremely distressing time."

Monash IVF opened in 1971 and sees patients in dozens of locations throughout Australia. Last year, the firm settled a class-action lawsuit from more than 700 patients, making no admission of liability, after claims its clinics destroyed potentially viable embryos.

The clinic paid a settlement of 56 million Australian dollars (£26million).

Rare cases of embryo mix-ups have been reported before, including in the United States, Britain, and Europe. A woman in the U.S. state of Georgia in February filed a lawsuit against a fertility clinic after she gave birth to a stranger's baby.

Krystena Murray realised the error after the baby's birth because she and her sperm donor were both white and the child was Black.

Murray said she wanted to raise the baby but voluntarily gave the 5-month-old to his biological parents after she was told she would not win a legal fight for his custody.