Minggu, 29 April 2012

London Women's Clinic under investigation after gay couple's 'IVF mix-up' claims

London Women's Clinic under investigation after gay couple's 'IVF mix-up' claims

By Daily Mail Reporter

PUBLISHED: 09:16 EST, 29 April 2012 | UPDATED: 10:38 EST, 29 April 2012

A gay couple is said to be 'devastated' after an alleged mix-up at an IVF clinic led them to have two children from different racial backgrounds. 

It is believed sperm from the wrong donor was used in the suspected blunder which has resulted in the second child being a different race from the rest of the family. 

The mistake is alleged to have happened at the London Women's Clinic, in Harley Street, which specialises in helping gay men and women to conceive.

The London Women's Clinic in Harley Street is under investigation after sperm was allegedly used from the wrong donor

The London Women's Clinic (pictured) in Harley Street is under investigation

It also has the largest sperm bank in Britain. 

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HEFA), which regulates IVF clinics, is believed to have begun investigating the case in January and a report will be presented on May 31.

It is claimed the parents only discovered the mix-up after the second child was born.

Fertility doctor Kamal Ahuja has said he cannot comment while an investigation takes place

Fertility doctor Kamal Ahuja has said he cannot comment while an investigation takes place

A spokeswoman for the HEFA told The Sunday Times: 'Our primary concern is for the patients involved and their confidentiality. 

'They are understandably very distressed about the incident and the fact that it has become public knowledge.'

Dr Kamal Ajuja, who is in charge of the clinic, has called in an independent expert to investigate the case.

However, he said he could not comment while an investigation was ongoing.

Lawyers for the unit said the chances of a mix-up involving donor sperm is less than 0.02 per cent. 

However, Caron Heyes, a solicitor at Blake Lapthorn which is representing the couple, said: 'The damage to the [younger] child in the future, to both the siblings and the family unit could be catastrophic.'

It wouldn't be the first time that an IVF clinic has made a similar mistake. 

In 2002, a white couple had mixed-race twins after an Asian man's sperm was incorrectly used to impregnate eggs at a fertility clinic managed by Leeds NHS Trust.

The incorrect artificial insemination is alleged to have happened at the London Women's Clinic, which specialises in helping gay men and women to conceive

The incorrect artificial insemination is alleged to have happened at the London Women's Clinic, which specialises in helping gay men and women to conceive

Another mix-up happened at a fertility clinic at Belfast's Royal Victoria hospital. 

The couple's first child with the donor was fair skinned but their second child was black. 

More than 13,000 babies are born each year as a result of IVF treatment.

Here's what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

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which is why you shouldn't mess with nature

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Sorry I really do not aggree with gay relationships including children. Unfair to children to be bought up in an 'unusual , different, set up' So many problems waiting to happen. Kids dont ask to be born. Their future life should always be taken into consideration. Can you emagine the bullying at school even if your mum or dad is Elton John.

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Being devastated because the kids are mixed race? They should consider themselves lucky to have had the opportunity to have kids in the first place - kids who deserve to live a happy life without any discrimination.

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