Monash IVF admits to mistake after wrong embryo implanted

A fertility firm has admitted to a second dramatic mistake in the space of three months after the wrong embryo was implanted into a patient. Photo / 123RF

Fertility treatment company Monash IVF has admitted to a second IVF mistake, again putting the wrong embryo into a patient.

The latest incident happened on June 5 at the company’s Clayton clinic in Melbourne’s southeast.

“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 said in a statement to the ASX on Tuesday.

“Monash IVF is conducting an internal investigation into the incident.

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

In 2023, Monash IVF staff in Brisbane mistakenly implanted the wrong embryo into another woman; the recipient of the embryo gave birth to the child.

Monash IVF reported this incident to authorities, and news of the error broke in April this year.

Victorian barrister Fiona McLeod is running an independent review into the Brisbane incident. McLeod’s investigation is being widened, Tuesday’s announcement says.

“[Monash IVF] has also extended the scope of the independent review … noting that the different incidents occurred some years apart. Monash IVF will provide an update on the findings of the expanded review in due course,” the statement reads.

The company said checks and balances were also being improved “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 process,” the statement read.

“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.”

Monash IVF alerted the regulators to the incident, the company said.