Revealed: Collection, storage and identification top IVF complaints

Thousands of frozen sperm samples are set to be destroyed following an intensive probe into Queensland’s IVF industry.

The Office of the Health Ombudsman has ordered the destruction of all frozen sperm in the state’s fertility clinics that fail to meet the correct standards for collection, storage and identification.

It is possible thousands of samples could be involved.

This was one of the key highlights in the OHO’s final report following an intensive probe into the state’s providers.

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman ordered the systemic investigation last November sparked by a series of horror stories told by brave women during a five-year Courier Mail and Sunday Mail investigation.

The stories exposed allegations of a sperm swap, one donor with a possible 1000 children and a sperm donor on an unregulated Queensland tour to impregnate women.

In June the government introduced the Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill to help provide a framework to regulate ART providers and services in Queensland.

The Health Ombudsman investigated complaints into the fertility industry.

The report is based on records from consumer complaints to OHO and ART providers, adverse events, audits and interviews.

The recommendations include actions to improve ART practices and procedures, ensuring

better safeguards for consumers, donors, and donor-conceived children.

The new Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill will include a $5.9m donor conception information register, giving donor-conceived people access to information about their genetic origins.

One quarter of the complaints about the collection, storage, identification, and distribution of gametes and embryos were related to OHO issues and 40 per cent of ART provider complaints.

The second highest volume of complaints related to the provision of information and informed consent, which represented 28 per cent of OHO issues and 20 per cent of ART provider complaints.

The third area of concern was the screening of gametes and donors with 16 per cent of OHO issues and 13 per cent of ART provider complaints.

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman.

Ms Fentiman said the investigation provided a crucial opportunity to assess the standards of care in assisted reproductive sector in Queensland, which play an important role in helping families pursue their dreams of parenthood.

“The findings of this investigation underscore the need for robust legislative frameworks to oversee ART services and protect the interests of consumers and donor-conceived individuals,” she said.

“Our recently introduced Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill will help safeguard Queensland families by establishing a donor registry, ensuring people have access to sufficient information and counselling services, and providing more powers to Queensland Health to oversee providers,” she said.

The Bill would see providers who break the rule facing two years’ imprisonment.

Originally published as Revealed: Collection, storage and identification top IVF complaints