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WA Couple Sues Well-Known IVF Clinic over Embryo Mix-Up
The donors claim Monash IVF’s identification failures caused psychiatric injury and unresolved grief after a child was born to the wrong parents.
A West Australian couple filed a Supreme Court of Victoria writ last month suing Monash IVF for negligence, claiming their donated embryo was not used for a Brisbane couple's pregnancy as intended.
The error was discovered about a year after the child's birth when clinic staff noticed a woman had one embryo fewer than recorded and realized it had been transferred to the wrong patient.
Claiming they suffered chronic adjustment disorder with depressed mood and grief, the donors filed suit after being excluded from confidential settlements Monash reached with other families involved in mix-ups.
Monash blamed the blunder on "human error" and commissioned an independent investigation by barrister Fiona McLeod in March 2025, though a spokesperson declined to comment on the active negligence claim.
When settling other cases earlier this year, Monash stated it had taken "significant steps" to strengthen safety culture and claimed systems now meet required standards and community expectations.