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Independent review into Monash IVF embryo bungles in Melbourne and Brisbane to remain secret
Monash IVF has received an independent review into unrelated cases of embryo mix-ups in Brisbane and Melbourne but the contents will remain secret.
In an announcement to the ASX today, the fertility giant said the review, undertaken by barrister Fiona McLeod KC, would not be released publicly to protect the privacy of affected patients.
"Both cases involved non-standard IVF treatments and circumstances that would not arise in the vast majority of IVF procedures," Monash IVF said in the ASX announcement.
The review concluded the Brisbane incident was the result of human error.
It found the Melbourne incident resulted from a range of factors, including human error at multiple stages and IT system limitations "in the very limited circumstances of an embryo transfer to a partner".
"Those limitations ultimately made subsequent processes more vulnerable to human error," the ASX announcement said.
In April, revelations emerged 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.
Then, in June, the fertility company apologised for a second time in as many months after a patient received her own embryo "contrary to the treatment plan which designated the transfer of an embryo of the patient's partner".
