Monash IVF hit with class action over allegedly bungled genetic screening

Monash IVF has been hit with a landmark lawsuit amid fears faulty genetic screening may have led to the destruction of healthy embryos.

Healthy embryos may have been discarded due to a faulty screening test which may have incorrectly identified the embryos as ‘abnormal’.

A multimillion-dollar class action lawsuit has been launched against ­fertility giant Monash IVF by heartbroken families, after revelations healthy embryos may have been destroyed in bungled genetic screening tests.

More than 100 Australians have indicated they will join the landmark case, with the potential for thousands more patients to come forward.

Couples and individuals who fear they have been robbed of the chance of having or expanding a family are seeking tens of ­millions of dollars in compensation.

On Wednesday, documents were filed in the Supreme Court of Victoria stating the case against Monash IVF and the ­Adelaide Fertility Centre, on behalf of patients who attended between May 2019 and October this year.

The Herald Sun revealed in October healthy embryos may have been ­discarded due to faulty screening tests which could have incorrectly identified them as “abnormal”.

One Melbourne woman who has joined the action said it was “indefensible” two of her embryos could have been wrongfully destroyed.

“It’s heartbreaking and ­infuriating,” said the woman, who has chosen to remain anonymous. “They’ve got all your hope in their hands … they’re messing with people’s futures, their hopes and dreams.”

The 39-year-old said she was told the “cutting edge” genetic screening test was a non-invasive and cheaper ­alternative to current procedures, and only Monash IVF had the new technology.

But while waiting for the news that her third and final embryo had not been successful, she was advised two embryos that had earlier been destroyed may have been healthy after all.

“I have to live my life wondering if I missed my chance at expanding my family because of this,” she said.

“There needs to be some ­accountability about how the decision was made to roll out a technology that wasn’t ready.”

Monash IVF, one of ­Melbourne’s leading IVF clinics, introduced the new non-invasive pre-implantation genetic screening in May last year, but only became aware of a fault when it undertook a ­review of the program in late September.

The test, believed to have been used about 13,000 times nationally, has since been ­suspended and an investigation launched.

News of the class action lawsuit was revealed on ­heraldsun.com.au on Wednesday afternoon.

Margalit Injury Lawyers managing principal Michel Margalit, who is leading the legal fight, said her firm had ­already spoken to more than 100 men and women, but ­she believed there could be many more potential victims.

“There are potentially hundreds, if not thousands, more people who have been impacted. For many, the resounding feeling is that they wasted their last opportunity to have a child,” she said.

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