Monash IVF has confirmed a second serious error involving embryo transfers, just months after it was revealed that a Brisbane woman gave birth to a child who was not biologically hers due to a similar mistake.
In a statement to the ASX on Tuesday, Monash IVF said that last Thursday, a woman at its Clayton Laboratory in Melbourne was implanted with another woman’s embryo, which was meant to be transferred to her partner instead.
The fertility clinic extended its “sincere apologies” to the affected couple and stated that it is continuing to provide them with support.
An internal investigation has been launched, and Monash IVF has introduced additional verification measures and patient confirmation safeguards beyond standard protocols.
The clinic noted that while it uses advanced electronic witness systems, certain steps in the IVF process still rely on manual checks, which may have contributed to the error.
This incident follows a previously disclosed case from April, where a Brisbane woman unknowingly gave birth to another couple’s child. That mistake was discovered in February when the birth parents requested a transfer of their remaining embryos and found an extra one.
Monash IVF confirmed that a thawed embryo from a different patient had been mistakenly implanted, resulting in the child being born to the wrong parents.
The clinic said it has informed the families affected by both incidents and is providing ongoing support. An independent investigation was launched following the first incident, and Monash IVF has now extended the scope of its review, promising further updates in due course.
