Monash IVF admits second bungled embryo implant, this time at Melbourne clinic

A second bungled embryo implant at Monash IVF has sparked a new investigation, and the expansion of a review into the first incident, which led to a woman unknowingly giving birth to a stranger’s baby.

Monash IVF said in a statement on Tuesday that on 5 June “a patient’s own embryo was incorrectly transferred to that patient, contrary to the treatment plan which designated the transfer of an embryo of the patient’s partner”.

“Monash IVF has extended its sincere apologies to the affected couple, and we continue to support them,” the fertility company said.

The first error was announced in April. In that case, a patient at one of its Brisbane clinics had an embryo incorrectly transferred to her, meaning she gave birth to a child of an unrelated woman.

The mistake was blamed on human error. Monash IVF asked senior counsel Fiona McLeod to investigate.

Lawyers described the incident as a legal and ethical nightmare while Monash IVF said it was confident it was an isolated incident.

The latest incident happened in a Melbourne laboratory in Clayton.

Monash IVF said it was “conducting an internal investigation into the incident”. The company also “extended the scope of the independent review” being conducted by McLeod.

It further said on Tuesday it would put extra verification processes and patient confirmation safeguards in place “over and above normal practice and electronic witness systems, to ensure patients and clinicians have every confidence in its processes”.

“Whilst industry-leading electronic witness systems have and are being rolled out across Monash IVF, there remains instances and circumstances whereby manual witnessing is required,” the statement to the ASX said.

Monash IVF also notified assisted reproductive technology regulators and its insurers.