Fertility Clinic Sued After Father and Daughter Make Shocking Discovery

A Las Vegas family’s pursuit of truth leads to a shocking discovery: the daughter is not biologically related to her father.

At a Glance

A DNA test reportedly revealed a teenager is not related to her father, sparking a lawsuit.
The lawsuit accuses the fertility clinic of implanting the wrong embryo.
The clinic, now closed, is being sued for negligence and malpractice.
Both father and daughter have faced emotional distress due to the revelation.

DNA Test Reveals Shock

A routine online DNA test by a Las Vegas teenager unveiled a startling reality: no biological relation to the parents who raised her. This discovery has resulted in her father lodging a lawsuit against the Las Vegas fertility clinic responsible for her conception. The family had used Nevada Fertility C.A.R.E.S., which is now out of business, to conceive via IVF nearly two decades ago.

The lawsuit, filed by both the father and daughter, asserts that the wrong embryo was mistakenly placed in the mother’s womb. This unintentional swap meant that another couple’s embryo was carried to term. The family only became aware of this misstep when the daughter, curious about her ancestry, took a DNA test.

DNA test leads Las Vegas family to sue fertility clinic over wrong embryo https://t.co/3KdJck2424

— KUSI News (@KUSINews) October 1, 2024

Legal and Emotional Consequences

The mix-up has left a trail of emotional anguish for the family. The teenager’s mother passed away in 2022, unaware of the circumstances behind her daughter’s birth. The teenager’s father is now planning to adopt her legally to affirm their familial bond beyond biological constraints. Despite that she grew up with him, this step seeks to protect their relationship legally.

According to Attorney Robert Murdock, the father “had more tears than I’ve ever seen someone shed, because what he thought was his daughter … isn’t.”

The lawsuit accuses the clinic of gross negligence, malpractice, and causing severe emotional distress. It seeks compensation for damages greater than $15,000 and requests a jury trial to assess culpability. The family is also calling for accountability not just from the clinic but potentially for other families affected by similar mistakes from 2002 to 2012.

Medical Oversight and Accountability

The family is determined to hold those involved responsible, naming doctor Rachel McConnell and embryologist Dee Harris in the lawsuit. Despite the mistakes, the doctor has no citation history with the Nevada Board of Medical Examiners. The fertility industry, though revolutionary for many families, faces scrutiny. The incident underscores the critical importance of precision and oversight in fertility treatments.

“IVF is an absolutely amazing thing,” Murdock said. “We are living in amazing times that we can help out couples who have fertility issues. It’s an amazing thing.”