IVF patients share horror stories amid Monash embryo bungle
These are the types of stories filling up Lucy Lines' inbox after the former embryologist asked her 15,000 Instagram followers whether something had gone wrong during their IVF cycle.
'I was sent another patient's pathology form.' 'My ex-partner was mistakenly sent my appointment details.' 'I was given the wrong injections.' 'My best-quality eggs were inadvertently destroyed.'
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ABC News
16 hours ago
- ABC News
The IVF industry is under the microscope after Monash IVF apologised for a second embryo bungle. How rare is a mistake?
The IVF industry is under the microscope after major fertility provider Monash IVF apologised for a second embryo bungle. Days after the company told the stock market about the latest case, its chief executive officer resigned. It followed revelations in April that one of Monash IVF's Brisbane patients had been mistakenly implanted with another woman's embryo in 2023 and gave birth to a baby who had no genetic links to her later that year. An independent review is ongoing. Approximately 20,000 babies are born from IVF treatment in Australia every year, according to the Australian and New Zealand Assisted Reproduction Database. So, what is the process, what are the checks and balances, and how rare are such bungles? In vitro fertilisation — or IVF — is one of the most common assisted reproductive technology procedures (ART). The process involves collecting a donor or patient's eggs, then fertilising them with sperm in a Petri dish in a lab. A fertilised egg — known as an embryo — is then implanted into the woman's uterus. Fertility educator and IVF patient advocate Lucy Lines has previously worked as an embryologist — a scientist who specialises in developing embryos. She says whenever eggs, sperm or embryos are moved in the lab, the dishes and paperwork are all labelled with the patient's name, their ID number, and date of birth. In some labs, they are allocated a colour code as well, she says. "At minimum, there are three points of reference for each client inside the lab," she says. "So then when anything is moved from one dish or tube to another dish or tube, a second embryologist will come along and audibly repeat [the patient's name, date of birth, and the ID number]. "That is the historical way that it was done. "In some labs they've added an extra level, a barcode that requires a scanner to read the barcode, or in some other labs they have an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) label, which has an auto-reader on the bench top or workspace and that reader will sound if there are things on that bench that don't match each other." It varies. There are more than 40 "different pieces of legislation" governing ART and IVF across the country, according to the Fertility Society of Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ). For example, laws to regulate ART providers in Queensland only passed parliament last year. By comparison, Victoria has had laws in place for years. FSANZ's Reproductive Technology Accreditation Committee (RTAC) is responsible for setting performance standards and granting licences to fertility providers across the country. The society and RTAC are currently operated on a "volunteer basis by professionals within the sector who have taken on additional responsibilities". FSANZ is calling for the establishment of RTAC as an independent statutory authority to "strengthen oversight and trust in the sector". That is backed by the Victorian Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas who said yesterday it was concerning that the body that currently accredits fertility care providers is made up of fertility care providers. Yesterday, all Australian states and territories agreed to undertake a review into the implementation of an independent verification body for fertility providers. There are growing calls for national fertility legislation to replace the "fragmented" state and territory laws and provide "consistent, enforceable standards". IVF activist Anastasia Gunn is among those pushing for change. "We're asking for federal legislation of the industry, which the industry itself are asking for that," she says. "We're asking for a federal donor conception registry [as] historically gametes and embryos have been moved interstate. "Donor conceived people have a right to know their biological and medical history if they choose to. "We're choosing to ask for external regulation of the industry." No, there is no licensing or registration of embryologists in Australia — unlike other professions such as doctors and nurses. It is something the FSANZ would like to see changed. "We continue to advocate for robust professional recognition of embryologists in Australia — both to uphold standards and to protect the public," a FSANZ spokesperson said in a statement. "The medical laboratory professionals in Australia chose to set up this self-regulated scheme because the Australian Government decided not to include Medical Scientists and Technical Officers in the professions covered by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) when it was established in 2010. "Most comparable countries do have formal regulation of Medical Scientists and Technical Officers to protect the public and set minimum standards for ongoing assessment of competency and continuing professional development. "It would require the Australian Government to legislate mandatory registration." The industry insists they are rare. But others — such as Sydney Law School lecturer Christopher Rudge — acknowledge it is also difficult to know without specific data. "The recent history of IVF mistakes and errors is somewhat clouded by reported settlements, private settlements, so it is hard to know the true frequency of these errors," Dr Rudge told the ABC earlier this week. Monash IVF is a publicly listed company, which means it has "disclosure obligations". Over the past two months, it has made statements to the ASX — and its shareholders — about the two embryo incidents. However the ASX also issued Monash IVF a 'please explain' about the timing of the Brisbane announcement — which came weeks after the company said it became aware of the mix-up. Monash IVF's chief financial officer said the company did not expect the bungle would affect its share price "as it was an isolated incidence of human error". The company's share price plummeted from $1.08 to 69 cents after the Brisbane bungle was made public in April. Ms Lines says it was complex. "My only answer is, if you're looking down the barrel of IVF, arm yourself with the knowledge of what's actually involved … so that you can empower yourself to ask the questions that you need the answers to," she says.
AU Financial Review
a day ago
- AU Financial Review
IVF patients share horror stories amid Monash embryo bungle
These are the types of stories filling up Lucy Lines' inbox after the former embryologist asked her 15,000 Instagram followers whether something had gone wrong during their IVF cycle. 'I was sent another patient's pathology form.' 'My ex-partner was mistakenly sent my appointment details.' 'I was given the wrong injections.' 'My best-quality eggs were inadvertently destroyed.'
9 News
2 days ago
- 9 News
Ashley's algorithm changed when she got engaged. It almost cost her $1700
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Ashley Brooks-Garrett never really considered Botox until she got engaged and her social media algorithm changed. Suddenly, her TikTok and Instagram feeds were full of photos of perfect brides and posts about cosmetic procedures, from affordable skin treatments to pricey Botox and filler. Cosmetic procedures – especially nonsurgical ones – are becoming a popular part of wedding preparation, with US aesthetics company RealSelf reporting that wedding-related cosmetic procedure reviews rose by 30 per cent in 2019 alone. Ashley Brooks-Garrett didn't consider cosmetic procedures like Botox until she got engaged and her social media algorithm changed. (Supplied) Wedding websites provide "beauty timelines" instructing brides on when to undergo specific procedures, cosmetic clinics promote bridal packages, and social media is awash with brides-to-be showing off their before and after photos. The result is an intense pressure to join in, one that almost cost Brooks-Garrett $1700. "Being bombarded with images of perfect brides constantly on social media definitely played a part in the pressure I felt to look a certain way," she told "Society expects you to be absolutely perfect for one whole day and it's absolutely impossible ... it left me in a huge state of panic." Have you got a story? Contact reporter Maddison Leach at mleach@ So she traded her Aldi cleanser for a $250 skincare routine, spent $900 on facials and booked $600 worth of Botox. Clinical psychologist and co-founder of ReadyMind Cosmetic Psychology Dr Toni Pikoos said Brooks-Garrett isn't the first bride to be sucked in by social media pressure to look perfect and she won't be the last. These days, influencers and everyday women publicise their cosmetic procedures on social media, normalising what used to be a taboo experience. While that's not necessarily a bad thing, it can have a huge impact on brides. "The narrative around cosmetic procedures in society is really shifting towards this view of them being part of self-care and empowerment," Pikoos said. "When you're bombarded with that sort of messaging, you start to feel like, 'That's what I'm supposed to be doing for the big day as well.'" Specialist medical practitioner Dr Imaan Joshi said pressure may prompt brides to undergo procedures they don't need or may regret. "I do think that it's a little bit predatory, for lack of a better word, to start suggesting all these things to young women who don't actually need anything," she said. "But social media presents it as just another thing you do on your path to getting married." Brooks-Garrett admits she almost fell into that trap but ended up cancelling her $600 Botox less than 24 hours beforehand. "I panicked," she said, adding that she wanted to "look like herself" in wedding photos. Brooks-Garrett cancelled her Botox appointment because she wanted to "look like herself" on her wedding day. (Supplied) She also "couldn't justify the expense" on top of all her other wedding costs but some Australian brides get around that by travelling overseas for cheaper cosmetic procedures in a practice known as medical tourism. David Allen, chief executive of medical tourism operator Asthetica, said business is booming in Australia and brides-to-be are interested in travelling to Turkey for eyebrow transplants, dental veneers and teeth whitening on a budget. Some have also inquired about more invasive procedures, including liposuction, abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), gastric sleeve surgery, and rhinoplasty. Allen said Asthetica, which only works with JCI and ISO accredited hospitals, will service "a minimum" of 15 Australian brides by the end of the year. "Historically, women would purchase a wedding dress a size or two too small and use it as their motivation to be their best on the big day," he said. Now they're "seeking something with longevity" in the form of cosmetic procedures, with some brides- and grooms-to-be even booking "couples surgery" together. Joshi said that social media has "trivialised" medical tourism, as users sharing their positive experiences on TikTok and Instagram often leave out the risks. "It's normalised to the extent where people think that it's no different to getting your hair done or your nails done, but it's not," she said. "You have no idea about the qualifications of the person that you see in a foreign country. You have no idea about the system [or] what they can and can't safely do." Pikoos added that Australian brides need to be educated about the potential of undergoing cosmetic procedures overseas, especially in countries that don't have the same standards or regulations as Australia. "You hear terrible horror stories," she said. Social media has put more pressure than ever on brides to look a certain way and while some may be happy with the results of cosmetic procedures performed in Australia or abroad, Pikoos wants all brides to examine why they want these procedures. If it's due to shame, embarrassment or anxiety, she suggested addressing those emotions before forking out for a procedure they may regret or be disappointed by. Joshi added that while investing in skincare can boost brides' confidence, they need to understand the risks and long-term implications of more invasive procedures. Brooks-Garrett is glad she invested $1150 in her skin but cancelled her Botox appointment. (Supplied) Looking at her wedding photos now, Brooks-Garrett is glad she invested $1150 in skincare and facials but cancelled her $600 Botox appointment. "As women, we are made to feel that so much of our worth is tied up in our looks, as if our appearance is central to our value," she said. "But my face is so expressive and you can see exactly what I was feeling ... love and pure joy." national health medical tourism social media weddings CONTACT US
