Fertility CEO resigns after embryo transferred to wrong patient in major bungle

The Advertiser

a day ago

Monash IVF CEO Michael Knaap resigned on June 12 just days after the fertility behemoth admitted to the transfer of the wrong embryo into a patient.
The board accepted Mr Knaap's resignation just two months after a similar incident occurred at a Brisbane clinic.
Monash IVF confirmed on June 10 that a patient was transferred her own embryo, rather than her partner's, at its Clayton clinic in Melbourne.
Monash IVF believes the June 5 bungle will "fall within the scope of its insurance coverage" as insurers were notified.
It comes two months after a Queensland woman gave birth to a stranger's child in an embryo mix-up at Monash IVF's Brisbane clinic.
Monash IVF said in a statement to the ASX that an internal investigation would be conducted.
The scope of an independent review into the Queensland mix-up, conducted by Fiona McLeod, would also be "extended", Monash IVF said.
Additional processes would be put in place at Monash IVF to avoid a similar mistake, the clinic said.
"Commencing immediately, Monash IVF will implement interim additional verification processes and patient confirmation safeguards over and above normal practice and electronic witness systems, to ensure patients and clinicians have every confidence in its processes," the clinic said.
"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 Reproductive Technology Accreditation Committee certifying body and Victorian Health Regulator.
The fertility clinic said it has "extended its sincere apologies to the affected couple".
University of Melbourne associate professor Alex Polyakov, a medical director of Genea Fertility Melbourne, said Australia's assisted reproduction sector was internationally recognised for its "rigorous oversight".
"The report of a second embryo transfer error is profoundly troubling and, while still extremely rare, shifts this issue from an isolated anomaly to one demanding broader reflection," he said.
"IVF clinics operate within some of the most highly regulated and scrutinised environments in medicine.
"Multiple safeguards, including dual verification and electronic tracking, exist at every step to prevent precisely this kind of error."
Monash IVF CEO Michael Knaap resigned on June 12 just days after the fertility behemoth admitted to the transfer of the wrong embryo into a patient.
The board accepted Mr Knaap's resignation just two months after a similar incident occurred at a Brisbane clinic.
Monash IVF confirmed on June 10 that a patient was transferred her own embryo, rather than her partner's, at its Clayton clinic in Melbourne.
Monash IVF believes the June 5 bungle will "fall within the scope of its insurance coverage" as insurers were notified.
It comes two months after a Queensland woman gave birth to a stranger's child in an embryo mix-up at Monash IVF's Brisbane clinic.
Monash IVF said in a statement to the ASX that an internal investigation would be conducted.
The scope of an independent review into the Queensland mix-up, conducted by Fiona McLeod, would also be "extended", Monash IVF said.
Additional processes would be put in place at Monash IVF to avoid a similar mistake, the clinic said.
"Commencing immediately, Monash IVF will implement interim additional verification processes and patient confirmation safeguards over and above normal practice and electronic witness systems, to ensure patients and clinicians have every confidence in its processes," the clinic said.
"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 Reproductive Technology Accreditation Committee certifying body and Victorian Health Regulator.
The fertility clinic said it has "extended its sincere apologies to the affected couple".
University of Melbourne associate professor Alex Polyakov, a medical director of Genea Fertility Melbourne, said Australia's assisted reproduction sector was internationally recognised for its "rigorous oversight".
"The report of a second embryo transfer error is profoundly troubling and, while still extremely rare, shifts this issue from an isolated anomaly to one demanding broader reflection," he said.
"IVF clinics operate within some of the most highly regulated and scrutinised environments in medicine.
"Multiple safeguards, including dual verification and electronic tracking, exist at every step to prevent precisely this kind of error."
Monash IVF CEO Michael Knaap resigned on June 12 just days after the fertility behemoth admitted to the transfer of the wrong embryo into a patient.
The board accepted Mr Knaap's resignation just two months after a similar incident occurred at a Brisbane clinic.
Monash IVF confirmed on June 10 that a patient was transferred her own embryo, rather than her partner's, at its Clayton clinic in Melbourne.
Monash IVF believes the June 5 bungle will "fall within the scope of its insurance coverage" as insurers were notified.
It comes two months after a Queensland woman gave birth to a stranger's child in an embryo mix-up at Monash IVF's Brisbane clinic.
Monash IVF said in a statement to the ASX that an internal investigation would be conducted.
The scope of an independent review into the Queensland mix-up, conducted by Fiona McLeod, would also be "extended", Monash IVF said.
Additional processes would be put in place at Monash IVF to avoid a similar mistake, the clinic said.
"Commencing immediately, Monash IVF will implement interim additional verification processes and patient confirmation safeguards over and above normal practice and electronic witness systems, to ensure patients and clinicians have every confidence in its processes," the clinic said.
"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 Reproductive Technology Accreditation Committee certifying body and Victorian Health Regulator.
The fertility clinic said it has "extended its sincere apologies to the affected couple".
University of Melbourne associate professor Alex Polyakov, a medical director of Genea Fertility Melbourne, said Australia's assisted reproduction sector was internationally recognised for its "rigorous oversight".
"The report of a second embryo transfer error is profoundly troubling and, while still extremely rare, shifts this issue from an isolated anomaly to one demanding broader reflection," he said.
"IVF clinics operate within some of the most highly regulated and scrutinised environments in medicine.
"Multiple safeguards, including dual verification and electronic tracking, exist at every step to prevent precisely this kind of error."
Monash IVF CEO Michael Knaap resigned on June 12 just days after the fertility behemoth admitted to the transfer of the wrong embryo into a patient.
The board accepted Mr Knaap's resignation just two months after a similar incident occurred at a Brisbane clinic.
Monash IVF confirmed on June 10 that a patient was transferred her own embryo, rather than her partner's, at its Clayton clinic in Melbourne.
Monash IVF believes the June 5 bungle will "fall within the scope of its insurance coverage" as insurers were notified.
It comes two months after a Queensland woman gave birth to a stranger's child in an embryo mix-up at Monash IVF's Brisbane clinic.
Monash IVF said in a statement to the ASX that an internal investigation would be conducted.
The scope of an independent review into the Queensland mix-up, conducted by Fiona McLeod, would also be "extended", Monash IVF said.
Additional processes would be put in place at Monash IVF to avoid a similar mistake, the clinic said.
"Commencing immediately, Monash IVF will implement interim additional verification processes and patient confirmation safeguards over and above normal practice and electronic witness systems, to ensure patients and clinicians have every confidence in its processes," the clinic said.
"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 Reproductive Technology Accreditation Committee certifying body and Victorian Health Regulator.
The fertility clinic said it has "extended its sincere apologies to the affected couple".
University of Melbourne associate professor Alex Polyakov, a medical director of Genea Fertility Melbourne, said Australia's assisted reproduction sector was internationally recognised for its "rigorous oversight".
"The report of a second embryo transfer error is profoundly troubling and, while still extremely rare, shifts this issue from an isolated anomaly to one demanding broader reflection," he said.
"IVF clinics operate within some of the most highly regulated and scrutinised environments in medicine.
"Multiple safeguards, including dual verification and electronic tracking, exist at every step to prevent precisely this kind of error."