The embryo mix-up that resulted in a woman giving birth to a genetically-unrelated child occurred due to a combination of overworked embryologists, and insufficient oversight, according to a report.
The Times of Israel has reported the results of a health ministry report from a committee convened to investigate the mix-up which occurred at the Assuta Medical Centre in Rishon Lezion.
'The committee believes that the embryologists' workload is the reason for not following proper procedures and "skipping" over steps within the protocols,' the report said.
The number of patients being treated at the clinic had increased rapidly over the preceding years as the government outsourced IVF to private clinics.
The committee also found that the hospital's patient safety and risk management department did not oversee the IVF clinic, and that mistakes were not logged or reported.
The report also identified two women who may be the child's genetic mother, but Israel's High Court has ruled that no more genetic testing should take place (see BioNews 1183).
