More than 1 in 10 women now seek fertility services, according to a Philadelphia IVF malpractice lawyer. Assistive reproductive technology involves complex technologies and have multiple procedural steps. While many patients achieve satisfactory results, in a subset of cases, significant errors occur. This article will review most common errors in fertility treatments and discuss how a Philadelphia IVF malpractice lawyer can represent victims who are harmed by fertility treatment malpractice.
Fertility Treatment Types
With reproductive technology continuing to develop, couples or individuals hoping for a child have a breadth of medical interventions available to assist them.
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) – IVF treatment is a process in which an egg and sperm is collected and fertilized in a laboratory setting. Later, a fertilized embryo is inserted into the mother’s uterus.
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) – In this fertility treatment, physicians collect the donor’s sperm and inject it into the mother’s uterus during ovulation.
Microsurgical sperm retrieval – these procedures include Testicular sperm extraction (TESE) and Microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration (MESA). In these procedures, a reproductive specialist extracts sperm from the male for use in IVF treatments.
Embryo genetic testing – these procedures seek to identify genetic abnormalities that could result in congenital disabilities such as birth defects, miscarriage, or implementation failure.
Every person considering fertility treatments should be apprised of the risks of serious health problems and risks that could occur. According to a Philadelphia IFV malpractice lawyer, fertility treatments can harbor risks to both the mother and fetus. Errors during fertility treatments may injure the mother, newborn, or both.
What are the Common Fertility Treatment Errors?
- Misdiagnosis errors
- Lack of Informed Consent
- Embryos given to wrong patient
- Insufficient screening of donor sperm
- Reduced fertility resulting from surgical negligence
- Reproductive tissue is inadvertently destroyed
- Fertility clinic misplaces eggs or sperm after extraction
- Fertility clinic destroys embryos by mistake
- Cryotank malfunctions
Why Do Errors Happen?
Reproductive technology errors can happen for many reasons. The following are some reasons that reproductive errors occur.
- Lack of Training for medical professionals or laboratory personnel
- Poor communication by medical professionals
- Improper laboratory protocols, such as lax labeling or witnessing
- Improper maintenance or monitoring of cryotanks
Fertility Clinic Negligence
Like all medical facilities, fertility clinics owe a duty of care to their patients. They must treat their patients with an appropriate level of skill and ensure their actions to not cause harm. Fertility specialists also have the responsibility to inform patients of potential issues to allow their patients to determine what they want to do. For example, a fertility specialist who knows that frozen embryos could harbor a serious defect has the responsibility to offer genetic testing and allow patients to determine whether to continue with pregnancy.
Can I Sue for Reproductive Negligence?
An IVF malpractice lawyer helps individuals or couples who want to sue fertility clinics for reproductive negligence. Victims of IVF medical malpractice have the right to file a claim and seek compensation for the harm caused negligent fertility specialists or clinics. Claims regarding reproductive negligence are frequently complex. A Philadelphia IVF malpractice lawyer can help determine if your IVF clinic was negligent and if they can be held liable for malpractice.
Call IVF Malpractice Lawyers at the Wieand Law Firm Today!
The Wieand Law Firm, LLC investigates claims regarding IVF malpractice and fertility treatment negligence. Our lawyers work on a contingency basis, which means that we don’t charge a fee unless we earn money for you. Call today for a free consultation and learn more about your legal options and the process of filing a claim. Call 215-666-7777 or send us a message via the online form to speak directly with an attorney.
