A Las Vegas family’s world was turned upside down when a DNA test revealed a shocking truth about their daughter’s origins, leading to a lawsuit against a fertility clinic.
At a Glance
- A man and his daughter are suing Nevada Fertility C.A.R.E.S clinic after discovering they are not genetically related.
- The lawsuit alleges the clinic implanted the wrong embryo during IVF treatment nearly 20 years ago.
- The family seeks over $45,000 in damages for malpractice, negligence, and emotional distress.
- The father is now undergoing adoption proceedings to legally become his daughter’s father.
- The case raises concerns about potential mix-ups affecting hundreds of patients treated by the clinic from 2002-2012.
DNA Test Uncovers Startling Truth
A routine DNA test on Ancestry.com has led to a groundbreaking lawsuit against a Las Vegas fertility clinic. The test revealed that a man, identified as EP Doe in court documents, is not the biological father of his teenage daughter, KP Doe. This discovery came as a shock to the family, who had undergone in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment at Nevada Fertility C.A.R.E.S clinic nearly two decades ago.
The lawsuit, filed against the now-closed clinic, accuses the fertility doctor of implanting an embryo that didn’t contain genetic material from either parent. EP Doe had provided his sperm, which was to be used with an egg donor’s ova for the IVF procedure. The family’s world was shattered when they learned that KP was born from an embryo created for another couple.
A teenager’s online DNA test led her family to file a lawsuit Monday against a Las Vegas fertility clinic, alleging the wrong embryo was implanted in her mother 18 years ago and the parents who raised her are not biologically related to her. https://t.co/PxPdLFdCBn
— KLBK News (@KLBKNews) October 1, 2024
Emotional Turmoil and Legal Challenges
The revelation has caused significant emotional distress for the family. Attorney Robert Murdock, representing the Does, described the father’s reaction, saying he “had more tears than I’ve ever seen someone shed, because what he thought was his daughter … isn’t.” The lawsuit seeks punitive and compensatory damages exceeding $15,000 for malpractice, negligence, and emotional distress.
“EP was deprived of the opportunity to create life from his heritage as was promised and planned by Defendants … KP is not the biological daughter of EP as was intended, and KP is not the biological daughter of EP or the egg donor,” according to the lawsuit. – Source
Adding to the family’s ordeal, EP is now undergoing adoption proceedings to legally become KP’s father, incurring significant costs. The lawsuit also raises concerns about whether EP might have biological children elsewhere due to the clinic’s actions.
Widespread Implications
The lawsuit alleges that similar mix-ups may have occurred for hundreds of patients treated by the clinic from 2002 to 2012. This case highlights the complexities and potential errors involved in assisted reproductive technologies, fueling ongoing debates about their ethical and legal ramifications.
“This was a way to have his heritage move on and it turns out it’s not and it’s a little too late for that,” Murdock said.
Nevada Fertility C.A.R.E.S. has since closed, but the doctor, Rachel McConnell, and embryologist, Dee Harris, named as defendants in the lawsuit, still work in the IVF industry. Notably, McConnell had previously settled a $30,000 lawsuit for negligence in freezing and storing embryos around the same time as the alleged mix-up.
A Call for Accountability
The lawsuit seeks a jury decision on culpability and damages. It cites negligence and malpractice, demanding accountability for the clinic’s alleged errors. As the case unfolds, it serves as a stark reminder of the trust placed in fertility clinics and the devastating consequences when that trust is breached.
“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.”
As this case progresses, it may prompt closer scrutiny of IVF procedures and potentially lead to stricter regulations in the fertility industry. For the Doe family, the journey ahead involves not only legal battles but also the emotional process of redefining their family bonds in light of this life-altering revelation.
Sources:
- Dad learns daughter isn’t related to him — because wrong embryo was implanted, suit says
- IVF clinic mix up reveals father isn’t related to daughter after wrong embryo implanted