£20,000 settlement for IVF triplets

The UK couple who had triplets following fertility treatment, despite originally wanting only one or two babies, have settled out of court with the clinic involved. Patricia and Peter Thompson won their case against the Sheffield Fertility Clinic last year, in which they claimed that doctors had ignored their wishes by implanting three embryos in Mrs Thompson's womb rather than the agreed two.

The Thompsons accepted £20,000 from the clinic just before a high court hearing was due to start, at which the couple were intending to claim for the costs of bringing up the third triplet - up to £100,000. The Thompsons had originally turned down a previous offer for £20,000 from the clinic, intended as compensation for the pain and discomfort of carrying and delivering an extra baby. But Mrs Thompson said they wanted to go ahead with the initial court case to prove that the clinic had treated them wrongly. 'We fought this case because we believe no one should undergo medical treatment unless they give consent' she said.

The clinic's solicitor, Susan Liveridge, said that her firm had been determined to defend the case throughout to prove that it was against public policy to award damages for the cost of raising a healthy child. However, Mrs Thompson said she was happy with the settlement, which will cover legal costs but will not profit the family. 'Instead, it will pay for the costs of defending a basic human right' she said.