A Las Vegas family has taken legal action against a fertility clinic after discovering an alleged embryo mix-up nearly twenty years later through a DNA test.
At a Glance
- A man and his daughter filed a lawsuit against Nevada Fertility C.A.R.E.S clinic after a DNA test revealed they are not genetically related.
- The lawsuit claims a fertility doctor implanted an embryo with no genetic material from the parents.
- The discovery was made after a DNA test prompted by the mother’s death in 2022.
- The family seeks over $45,000 in damages for this alleged malpractice.
Lawsuit Filed Over Alleged Embryo Mix-Up
A man and his daughter have filed a lawsuit against a Las Vegas fertility clinic after a DNA test revealed that they are not genetically related. The lawsuit accuses Nevada Fertility C.A.R.E.S, a now-closed clinic, of missteps in its in vitro fertilization (IVF) practices. This suit highlights lasting and potentially widespread issues in assisted reproductive technology.
The lawsuit targets Dr. Rachel McConnell and embryologist Dee Harris. It alleges the clinic implanted an embryo that did not carry genetic material from either the father, EP Doe, or the egg donor. This discovery came to light nearly two decades later through a DNA test initiated by KP Doe after the death of her mother in 2022.
The family learned KP was born from an embryo meant for another couple. This revelation has not only raised ethical and legal concerns but also distress for the involved parties. KP is now seeking her biological parents, while EP faces the possibility that he has a biological child elsewhere.
The lawsuit seeks punitive and compensatory damages, citing malpractice, negligence, and emotional distress. The father, EP Doe, is also undergoing expensive legal proceedings to adopt his teenage daughter officially and amend her birth certificate. The family demands more than $45,000 in damages from the defendants.
Ethical and Legal Repercussions
The case against Nevada Fertility C.A.R.E.S focuses on possible ethical lapses in handling embryos. EP Doe had initially used an egg donor and his sperm through IVF.
Such malpractice allegations are not new to Dr. Rachel McConnell, who previously settled a $30,000 lawsuit for negligence related to freezing and storing embryos during the same period. The current lawsuit also raises concerns about whether other patients treated by the clinic from 2002 to 2012 could have experienced similar issues.
Moving Forward Amid Turmoil
The lawsuit underscores lingering concerns over tracking and ethical handling of embryos. “IVF is an absolutely amazing thing,” said attorney Robert Murdock. “We are living in amazing times that we can help out couples who have fertility issues. It’s an amazing thing.”
For EP Doe, the emotional and financial toll of the incident is significant as he seeks to rectify a mix-up that altered his family’s life years ago. The lawsuit aims to hold the responsible parties accountable and possibly prevent future occurrences.