Ohio clinic implants wrong fertilized embryo
Mark Bychowski
Issue date: 9/28/09 Section: News
There are many reasons that couples seek external fertilization, also called vitro fertilization, as a method of conceiving a child. Nearly all of them include some desire to pass on the genetics of both parents to an offspring, one that may not have been able to be born any other way.
According to a CNN AM interview, this was the desire and the circumstance that lead Carolyn and Sean Savage to seek vitro fertilization for their first child at an undivulged Clinic in Ohio. When the procedure was a success and their first child was born, they decided to try again. With two healthy children, the Savage's decided once again to attempt vitro-fertilization as means to round out their family with a third child. Once again the procedure was repeated and all seemed to go as planned. Then they found out something they did not expect.
"I received a call… at my desk in my office on my cell phone sharing with us that we were pregnant" explained Mr. Savage in interview, "but at the same time, that they had transferred another couple's embryos to Carolyn."
No explanation has been given as to how the mix-up occurred and Mrs. and Mr. Savage have thus far not pressed the issue. "We spoke with the doctor who performed the embryo transfer the day that we were informed that I was pregnant," explained Mrs. Savage on CCN AM "but it was somebody else's genetic child. After that date and then a few days later when we communicated with him, we terminated all contact with the clinic responsible. We just thought it was best at that point."
Mix-ups with embryos are very rare, cites investigative reporter John Sewer, but when they do occur they often become embroiled with "custody battles, ugly lawsuits and at least one abortion." Despite the emotional blow, Carolyn and Sean Savage decided not to abort the child and when the time came, to give the child over to the genetic parents.
"We almost immediately came to that conclusion" Mr. Savage told CNN, "It was something that there was no other option based on our belief system, based on our history. And so that decision came without hesitation. And some of the other issues and items that followed were very, very difficult to deal with."
According to a CNN AM interview, this was the desire and the circumstance that lead Carolyn and Sean Savage to seek vitro fertilization for their first child at an undivulged Clinic in Ohio. When the procedure was a success and their first child was born, they decided to try again. With two healthy children, the Savage's decided once again to attempt vitro-fertilization as means to round out their family with a third child. Once again the procedure was repeated and all seemed to go as planned. Then they found out something they did not expect.
"I received a call… at my desk in my office on my cell phone sharing with us that we were pregnant" explained Mr. Savage in interview, "but at the same time, that they had transferred another couple's embryos to Carolyn."
No explanation has been given as to how the mix-up occurred and Mrs. and Mr. Savage have thus far not pressed the issue. "We spoke with the doctor who performed the embryo transfer the day that we were informed that I was pregnant," explained Mrs. Savage on CCN AM "but it was somebody else's genetic child. After that date and then a few days later when we communicated with him, we terminated all contact with the clinic responsible. We just thought it was best at that point."
Mix-ups with embryos are very rare, cites investigative reporter John Sewer, but when they do occur they often become embroiled with "custody battles, ugly lawsuits and at least one abortion." Despite the emotional blow, Carolyn and Sean Savage decided not to abort the child and when the time came, to give the child over to the genetic parents.
"We almost immediately came to that conclusion" Mr. Savage told CNN, "It was something that there was no other option based on our belief system, based on our history. And so that decision came without hesitation. And some of the other issues and items that followed were very, very difficult to deal with."
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