Clinic’s in vitro fertilization mistake caused pregnancy injuries

Women all across the United States have used in vitro fertilization to help them have babies that they normally wouldn’t have been able to give birth to. The process is a miracle for those in Louisiana, and other states, who were once struggling to get pregnant. Unfortunately for one mom, however, one mistake that was made during her in vitro fertilization caused irreversible pregnancy injuries.

Two days after the woman had undergone the procedure that would bring her and her husband the baby that they wanted, she received a phone call from her doctor’s office. According to the voice on the phone, she needed to come in immediately, as there had been an issue. It wasn’t the first child that she had birthed with the help of the fertility clinic, but she was a bit apprehensive.

When she arrived at the clinic, the woman was led to an exam bed, where she prepared to be examined. The doctor inserted a speculum, and the woman immediately felt pain, pressure and scraping, but she had no idea exactly what had happened. On the way home, she was adamant that something had gone wrong, but her husband thought that she was just upset.

As it turns out, the woman had been implanted with embryos that were abnormal and waiting to be discarded. They actually belonged to someone else. The clinic was short-staffed, and the normal precautions that would have prevented such a mistake were not undertaken. The mistake was scraped away without her consent or even her knowledge. She settled out of court for $250,000.

While in vitro fertilization can be a miraculous way for a couple to start their family, any medical procedure comes with some risks. When a doctor or other medical staff makes a mistake that causes such pregnancy injuries in Louisiana, the family has a right to consult with a personal injury attorney. The lawyer can go over the options that the would-be parents have and help them to decide whether or not they wish to go forward with a personal injury lawsuit.

Source: revealnews.org, “When pregnancy dreams become IVF nightmares“, Bernice Yeung and Jonathan Jones, June 1,2017