PET PET
  • My Account
  • Subscribe
Become a Friend Donate
  • About Us
    • People
    • Press Office
    • Our History
  • Get Involved
    • Become a Friend of PET
    • Volunteer
    • Campaigns
    • Writing Scheme
    • Partnership and Sponsorship
    • Advertise with Us
  • Donate
    • Become a Friend of PET
  • BioNews
    • News
    • Comment
    • Reviews
    • Elsewhere
    • Topics
    • Glossary
    • Newsletters
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Previous Events
  • Engagement
    • Policy and Projects
      • Resources
    • Education
  • Jobs & Opportunities
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
    • People
    • Press Office
    • Our History
  • Get Involved
    • Become a Friend of PET
    • Volunteer
    • Campaigns
    • Writing Scheme
    • Partnership and Sponsorship
    • Advertise with Us
  • Donate
    • Become a Friend of PET
  • BioNews
    • News
    • Comment
    • Reviews
    • Elsewhere
    • Topics
    • Glossary
    • Newsletters
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Previous Events
  • Engagement
    • Policy and Projects
      • Resources
    • Education
  • Jobs & Opportunities
  • Contact Us
  • My Account
  • Subscribe
  • Privacy Statement
  • Advertising Policy
  • Thanks and Acknowledgements
PETBioNewsNewsMalfunction at clinic may compromise frozen eggs and embryos

BioNews

Malfunction at clinic may compromise frozen eggs and embryos

Published 9 March 2018 posted in News and appears in BioNews 941

Author

Dr Lone Hørlyck

Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts equipment used for embryo biopsy.
CC0 1.0
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts equipment used for embryo biopsy.

A temperature fluctuation in a storage bank has compromised at least 2100 frozen eggs and embryos in a fertility clinic in Cleveland Ohio...

A temperature fluctuation in a storage bank has compromised at least 2100 frozen eggs and embryos in a fertility clinic in Cleveland, Ohio.

It is still unclear what caused the malfunction at the University Hospitals Fertility Centre, which may affect more than 500 fertility patients.

Patricia DePompei, president of University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital said in a video posted on Facebook: 'We are so very sorry this happened and we want to do all that we can to support our patients and families through this very difficult time.'

The incident happened between Saturday and Sunday when there was no staff at the clinic. It was discovered on Sunday morning when staff arriving at the facility were alerted by an alarm. 

The University Hospitals announced an independent investigation is being planned to clarify the cause of the incident, which could be due to a technical malfunction or human error.

A class action lawsuit is being brought against the facility by law firm DiCello Levitt & Casey. They are encouraging other patients to join the suit, started by Amber and Elliot Ash, who had a frozen embryo in storage at the centre.

University Hospitals responded: 'We understand why some people might feel compelled to take this step. Any lawsuits being filed will have no bearing on the independent review being conducted.' 

Affected samples included donor eggs, eggs frozen for fertility preservation and eggs being used for fertility treatments. Only the top layers in the tank were affected while samples at the bottom of the tank were not compromised. The extent of the damage to the affected eggs and embryos is currently unclear; viability can only be established once implantation takes place. 

Sean Tipton, chief policy officer at American Society for Reproductive Medicine, said: '[It] is a tragedy. First and foremost, our hearts go out to the patients who have suffered this loss… we will work with our member clinics to help them take any steps needed to ensure such an event never happens again.'

Related Articles

Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
CC0 1.0
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
News
3 May 2019 • 2 minutes read

Embryos not 'living persons' judges rule in Ohio case

by Suzi Denton

An appeal court in Cleveland, Ohio, has ruled that a couple's embryos lost in a freezer-failure incident last year were not 'living persons', and should not therefore have been treated as patients rather than property...

Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts equipment used for embryo biopsy.
CC0 1.0
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts equipment used for embryo biopsy.
News
25 January 2019 • 2 minutes read

New lawsuits filed over embryos lost in freezer failure

by Georgia Everett

Eight new lawsuits have been filed this week following the loss of 4000 eggs and embryos when a storage tank in a fertility clinic malfunctioned...

Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts equipment used for embryo biopsy.
CC0 1.0
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts equipment used for embryo biopsy.
News
23 November 2018 • 2 minutes read

Experts caution on implications of 'lost embryos' lawsuit

by Dr Lone Hørlyck

Experts have strongly criticised a claim that embryos lost during a storage tank failure at a fertility clinic were 'people'...

Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts equipment used for embryo biopsy.
CC0 1.0
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts equipment used for embryo biopsy.
News
6 August 2018 • 2 minutes read

Freezer-failure embryos were people, claim parents

by Jen Willows

An Ohio couple are continuing their legal fight to have their lost embryos declared to have the same legal status as people...

Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
CC0 1.0
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
News
19 March 2018 • 1 minute read

Second freezer failure at US fertility centre

by Jen Willows

A second US fertility clinic has reported a malfunction of a tank used to store frozen eggs and embryos...

Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
CC0 1.0
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
News
15 October 2016 • 3 minutes read

Adverse incidents at UK fertility clinics increase slightly

by Dr Antony Starza-Allen

The latest data from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has shown that the number of adverse incidents in UK fertility clinics has increased slightly...

Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
CC0 1.0
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
News
14 July 2014 • 2 minutes read

HFEA: More than 1,600 fertility clinic mistakes in three years

by Chee Hoe Low

Hundreds of adverse events occur in UK fertility clinics each year, according to a report from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority...

Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
CC0 1.0
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
News
19 March 2013 • 2 minutes read

Lawyers to investigate Chicago sperm bank malfunction

by Julianna Photopoulos

Three men are considering legal action against a sperm bank in the USA after their frozen sperm samples were allegedly destroyed following a reported malfunction in the bank's storage system. Its operators have said the error could affect as many as 200 patients, reports the Chicago Tribune....

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

« Single molecule found for breast cancer spread

Data-Label The UK's Leading Supplier Of Medical Labels & Asset Labels

RetiringDentist.co.uk The UK's Leading M&A Company.
easyfundraising
amazon

This month in BioNews

  • Popular
  • Recent
13 June 2022 • 2 minutes read

Drop in diversity of blood stem cells leads to old-age health issues

6 July 2022 • 1 minute read

Frozen embryo transfers linked to high blood pressure in pregnancy

5 July 2022 • 1 minute read

Anorexia in pregnancy linked to increased risk of complications

5 July 2022 • 2 minutes read

Pregnancy after breast cancer treatment does not increase risk of recurrence

5 July 2022 • 1 minute read

No difference between fresh and frozen sperm for IUI

4 July 2022 • 2 minutes read

Shorter IVF protocol reduces risk of OHSS

Subscribe to BioNews and other PET updates for free.

Subscribe
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • RSS
Wellcome
Website redevelopment supported by Wellcome.

Website by Impact Media Impact Media

  • Privacy Statement
  • Advertising Policy
  • Thanks and Acknowledgements

© 1992 - 2022 Progress Educational Trust. All rights reserved.

Limited company registered in England and Wales no 07405980 • Registered charity no 1139856

Subscribe to BioNews and other PET updates for free.

Subscribe
PET PET

PET is an independent charity that improves choices for people affected by infertility and genetic conditions.

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • RSS
Wellcome
Website redevelopment supported by Wellcome.

Navigation

  • About Us
  • Get Involved
  • Donate
  • BioNews
  • Events
  • Engagement
  • Jobs & Opportunities
  • Contact Us

BioNews

  • News
  • Comment
  • Reviews
  • Elsewhere
  • Topics
  • Glossary
  • Newsletters

Other

  • My Account
  • Subscribe

Website by Impact Media Impact Media

  • Privacy Statement
  • Advertising Policy
  • Thanks and Acknowledgements

© 1992 - 2022 Progress Educational Trust. All rights reserved.

Limited company registered in England and Wales no 07405980 • Registered charity no 1139856