Couples Allege IVF Clinic Implanted Dead Embryos

Nine couples have filed a lawsuit against Ovation Fertility, an IVF clinic in Newport Beach, California, claiming the clinic implanted embryos that had been inadvertently destroyed by a lab mistake. The couples allege that during the period of January 18 to January 30, the embryos were exposed to hydrogen peroxide instead of a sterile solution, which resulted in their immediate death. Despite this, it is claimed that the clinic proceeded to implant these nonviable embryos into the patients.

The complaint details that the embryologist's error was followed by the clinic's decision to implant the dead embryos without informing the prospective parents of the incident. The couples had expected a high chance of pregnancy success, as the embryos were considered to be of high quality, with a reported success rate of 75% or higher. However, none of the implantations during this time frame resulted in pregnancy.

The lawsuits accuse Ovation Fertility of several charges, including negligent misrepresentation, fraud, negligence, and medical battery. The couples involved are seeking an unspecified amount in damages and are requesting jury trials. The legal filings also suggest that Ovation Fertility attempted to conceal the error by asking patients to sign waivers and non-disparagement agreements. The issue reportedly came to light after fertility doctors questioned why there was a 0% success rate with the implanted embryos.