Monash IVF admits second major embryo mix up
Monash IVF Group has been forced to disclose another incident in which they transferred the wrong embryo into a woman, just months after a similar incident was exposed.
In a statement released to the ASX on Tuesday, Monash Group advised the incident involved transferring a patient's own embryo to her, instead of inserting the embryo of her same-sex partner.
The Melbourne-based woman is now being supported by the reproductive giant.
'Monash IVF has extended its sincere apologies to the affected couple, and we continue to support them,' it said in a statement.
In a statement to the ASX, Monash IVF said the incident is being investigated and the company and safeguards are being introduced.
Its shares were hammered 25 per cent lower to a near five-year low of 55.5¢ after news of the bungle broke.
'Commencing immediately, Monash IVF will implement interim additional verification processes and patient confirmation safeguards over and above normal practice,' Monash IVF Group said in their statement.
Two months ago, the fertility specialists were forced to admit they had mixed up the delivery of embryos at their Brisbane centre and a woman had given birth to a strangers baby.
'Monash IVF is conducting an internal investigation into the incident. It has also extended the scope of the independent review being conducted by Fiona McLeod AO SC in relation to the Brisbane incident, noting that the different incidents occurred some years apart.,' the statement added.
'Whilst industry-leading electronic witness systems have and are being rolled out across Monash IVF, there remain instances and circumstances whereby manual witnessing is required.
'Monash IVF has disclosed the incident to the relevant assisted reproductive technology ART regulators, namely the Reproduction Technology Accreditation Committee certifying body and Victorian Health Regulator.
'In addition, Monash IVF has notified it's insurers and expects the incident to fall within the scope of its insurance coverage,' the company noted.
The Brisbane incident involved a woman who gave birth to another couple's child after being implanted with the wrong embryo by Monash IVF.
The error was discovered in February, when the couple requested that their remaining embryos be transferred to another provider.
It is understood that the child, conceived through IVF in early 2023, is now a toddler.
While the case was described as the first of its kind in Australia, US lawyer Adam Wolf, who has represented numerous families affected by IVF mix-ups, stated at the time he believed it was unlikely to be an isolated event.
Shares in Monash IVF have plummeted off news of the second major procedure bungle, dropping 21 per cent and settling at 58c, which is their lowest value since November 2020.
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