Undergoing a process like in vitro fertilization (IVF) is already challenging and emotional enough without the trauma of discovering that a mistake or error has been made. From being given the wrong genetic material to losing the chance to have a family because of a storage failure, IVF errors can have earth-shattering effects for your family.
Knowing the most common types of IVF mistakes can make it easier to recognize when one has been made during your fertility journey – and signal when it’s time to contact a fertility clinic negligence attorney for legal representation.
Wrong Embryo, Egg or Sperm
A serious type of IVF error is a mix-up involving the wrong genetic material: the embryo, egg or sperm. With this type of mistake, a patient could receive the wrong implantation, leading to a child who is not genetically related to the parent(s). This error can occur due to mistakes such as the mislabeling of genetic materials, patient mix-ups, communication failures among the medical team and laboratory mistakes.
Storage Failures
IVF relies on the safe and proper storage of genetic materials. After undergoing the various procedures required to gather the necessary genetic material, it can be extremely distressing to learn that the fertility center or storage facility has had a problem that made your genetic materials no longer viable.
Storage and cryopreservation equipment failures may occur due to poor maintenance, a lack of adequate inspections, low-quality repairs, inadequate monitoring of alarms and alerts, tank malfunctions, and product defects. The improper handling, storage, freezing or thawing of a sample could also result in harm.
Improper Screening Processes
If an individual chooses to use a donor sperm, egg or embryo during the IVF process, the patient has the right to expect that all donors have been properly screened, verified and accurately documented. Failures during the screening process could lead to undisclosed genetic or medical conditions that lead to a poor or undesired outcome for the recipient.
Transference Mistakes
A negligent or careless IVF clinic could make an error related to the transference of an embryo, with devastating consequences. Examples include embryo mix-ups, implanting the wrong number of embryos, transferring a nonviable embryo or errors made during the transfer process itself. Transference mistakes can have serious effects, including failed implantation, physical harm, and emotional and psychological distress.
Medication Errors
Safe and successful IVF relies on precise medication combinations and dosages. Prescribing the wrong medication, mixing up patients, giving a patient the incorrect medication or timing dosing incorrectly can trigger major problems, including IVF failure and medical complications.
Lack of Informed Consent
A patient involved in any medical procedure, including IVF, has the legal right to give their informed consent to the treatment before it is initiated. Informed consent means the patient must receive information from the health care provider regarding the potential benefits and risks as well as alternatives to IVF, and give his or her knowing and capable consent to proceed. A lack of informed consent about the various procedures IVF treatment will involve, the risks and benefits, what may happen to genetic materials under various circumstances, and the success rate and medical limitations constitutes medical malpractice. If you have been a victim of an IVF error, always contact a malpractice attorney. You may have grounds to file a medical malpractice claim.