Overview

• Monash IVF confirmed that a Brisbane woman gave birth to a stranger's baby due to an embryo mix-up caused by human error, despite existing safety protocols.
• The error was discovered in February 2025 when the birth parents requested the transfer of their remaining embryos, revealing an extra embryo in storage.
• Monash IVF has apologized to the affected families, launched an independent investigation, and undertaken additional audits, asserting this was an isolated incident.
• Legal experts suggest the case could set a precedent in Australia, with unresolved questions about custody and the legal definition of parentage.
• Regulators and bioethicists are calling for stronger oversight and safeguards in the IVF industry, following this and previous controversies involving Monash IVF.