Father loses IVF damages claim

 

A father has lost a damages claim against a London IVF clinic after his ex-partner forged his signature to use frozen embryos.

The High Court found IVF Hammersmith was not negligent.
The couple broke up in 2010 but some months later the woman asked the clinic to implant an embryo, which they had stored.
The man, who can only be identified as ARB, said he only found out she was pregnant via a text message from her.
The couple had a son together through IVF at the clinic in 2008. A number of embryos had been frozen and they signed agreements annually for these to remain in storage.
In October 2010, the mother handed IVF Hammersmith a 'consent to thaw' form, forged with ARB's signature. On the basis of this document, an embryo was thawed and successfully implanted.
The presiding judge Mr Justice Jay said: "Although he has lost this case, my judgment must be seen as a complete personal and moral vindication for ARB."
"The same, of course, cannot be said for R." R is being used to identify the mother in the case.

'Unwanted child'

Jude Fleming of IVF Hammersmith welcomed the finding: "As a clinic, we place patient care at the heart of everything we do.
"We have been clear throughout that we have always adhered to the highest industry standards and met all statutory and regulatory obligations."
The father said his ex-partner's dishonesty resulted in the birth of his daughter, an "unwanted child".
He argued that the clinic should pay for the cost of her upbringing, including private school fees, holidays, refurbishing her bedroom and her wedding.
Afterwards, he said: "This claim has never been about money; it is about justice."
He plans to appeal the decision regarding damages in the Supreme Court.

Originally published on http://www.bbc.com/news/health-41525215