A second incident involving the incorrect transfer of embryos at Monash IVF has prompted an expanded investigation following a similar error where a woman unknowingly gave birth to a stranger’s baby. Monash IVF acknowledged on Tuesday that on 5 June, there was a mix-up involving a patient’s own embryo being transferred instead of their partner’s, contrary to the treatment plan. The company has offered its apologies and is providing ongoing support to the affected couple.
The initial error in April occurred at a Monash IVF facility in Brisbane, leading to a woman giving birth to a child that was not biologically related to her. Senior counsel Fiona McLeod was appointed to investigate this previous incident, and now, the scope of her review has been extended to cover the latest event.
In its statement, Monash IVF emphasized that they are conducting an internal investigation into the latest incident. Additionally, the company has committed to implementing extra verification processes and patient confirmation measures to ensure the integrity of its procedures and to restore confidence amongst its patients and clinicians.
The latest incident took place at a Melbourne laboratory in Clayton. Monash IVF admitted that while electronic witness systems have been introduced across their facilities, there are still situations requiring manual witnessing. The company has also notified the assisted reproductive technology regulators and its insurers of the incident.
Lawyers have described the situation as a “legal and ethical nightmare,” underscoring the severe consequences of such mix-ups. Despite the legal and media attention, Monash IVF has asserted confidence that this is an isolated incident.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jun/10/monash-ivf-admits-second-bungled-embryo-implant-this-time-at-melbourne-clinic
