Calls for federal IVF regulation and DNA testing after second Monash embryo mix-up
Anastasia Gunn is calling for national laws to regulate the assisted reproductive technology. (Four Corners: Ron Foley)
In short:
IVF campaigners are demanding urgent federal regulation after a second embryo mix-up at Monash IVF in two months.
They suggest children born through assisted reproduction should have a DNA test.
What's next?
Health ministers will meet in Melbourne tomorrow as activists call for uniform oversight across states.
IVF activists are calling for an urgent meeting with the federal health minister, and are suggesting children born through assisted reproduction should be DNA tested.
It comes after the latest embryo mix-up this week, involving Monash IVF.
The fertility giant apologised for a second time in as many months, for incorrectly transferring the wrong embryo to a patient.
The company announced to the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) that the bungle occurred at its laboratory in Clayton, Melbourne, last week and resulted in a patient receiving her own embryo "contrary to the treatment plan which designated the transfer of an embryo of the patient's partner".
Activists are asking that children born through IVF receive a DNA test. (Supplied: Adobe)
Two months ago, the company revealed a Brisbane patient was mistakenly implanted with another patient's embryo.
That patient gave birth to a baby who had no genetic link to her in 2023, but Monash IVF only discovered the error in February this year after the birth parents asked to transfer their remaining embryos to another provider.
Activists push for more regulation
In a letter to Mark Butler and other Australian health ministers, who will meet in Melbourne tomorrow, IVF activists Anastasia Gunn and Katherine Dawson called for federal laws to regulate the assisted reproductive technology (ART) industry and the establishment of a national central donor register.
Anastasia and Lexie Gunn's three sons were conceived through donor sperm. (Four Corners: Ron Foley)
While Victoria has been governed by ART laws for more than a decade, Queensland's legislation to regulate the industry was only passed last year.
The women have argued IVF mix-ups are not "rare mistakes", as industry professionals say.
"These are the direct consequence of systemic failures," the women said in the letter.
"While some impacted families are choosing privacy, we are stepping forward to speak out, on behalf of all the people who can't, and all those who will discover they have been harmed."
In Ms Gunn's case, her three sons were conceived through donor sperm at the Queensland Fertility Group between 2006 and 2014.
She and her partner paid for the same donor to be used for each child.
But DNA testing now shows their eldest son is not biologically related to their two younger boys, who have both been diagnosed with health conditions.
Calls for DNA testing grow
Anastasia Gunn said IVF clinics should offer DNA testing to clients. (Supplied: Adobe)
QFG has maintained its records show the same donor was used for all three children.
Given the latest issues, Ms Gunn has urged all ART patients to consider DNA testing of their children.
"At best, it will give them peace of mind," she told the ABC.
"At worst, it will show the degree of lack of regulation and adherence to standards that these clinics have engaged in.
"The clinics should be offering this DNA testing to whomever requests it. If they have nothing to hide, then they would be happy to do so."
IVF mistakes rare
Christopher Rudge says it is difficult to know how many IVF errors have been made. (Supplied)
Sydney Law School lecturer and Sydney Health Law (Centre) deputy director Christopher Rudge said these IVF events and mistakes were "relatively rare" however, he shared others' concerns that it was "hard to know without specific data".
"The recent history of IVF mistakes and errors is somewhat clouded by reported settlements, private settlements, so it is hard to know the true frequency of these errors,"he said.
Victoria's health regulator is investigating the latest Monash IVF incident.
Health regulators are investigating the recent embryo mix-up. (AAP: James Ross)
Dr Rudge said the state's regulatory authority — the Secretary for the Department of Health — has a range of powers, including being able to impose specific conditions on a provider's registration, suspend it if there are grounds to do so, or refer matters for prosecution.
He said the system was "well regulated" in Victoria, adding "the real key is for those regulations to be used" and for enforcement to take place.
"I note some calls for a uniform federal form of regulation or oversight, however I think if there was a federal instrument it would probably look like the Victorian one looks like already," he said.
"So it's probably more a matter of the Victorian regulator taking action."
In a statement, Mr Butler said he had put the regulation of the IVF sector on the agenda for the health ministers' meeting on Friday.
The ABC approached Monash IVF and QFG about DNA testing.
Monash IVF referred the ABC to the fertility company's ASX statement and QFG failed to answer any questions.
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