Herald Sun article re: ivf clinic stuff ups

[buliej]

Has anyone else read the piece on page 5 of today's (4 July) Sun about errors in labs? They don't name specific clinics but refer to Vic clinics. The laws re: defamation really seem to protect the clinics at the expense of providing info to "consumers" especially when we are soon going to be asked to pay a lot more for these services. I would like to know the facts about the lab in which I am placing my trust.

I will try to find the online article later and post a link

[butterfly_warrior]

buliej, is this the article you are referring to?

IVF blunders destroy baby dreams of 100 Victorian patients | Herald Sun

BW

[buliej]

Yes it is. Thank you BW for finding it.

[melbel]

Thanks BW....I actually rang DH at work and asked him to bring the article home as they get the paper at work but would be good to read it now...

[sazzafrazz]

Thanks for posting this link. I'm dont see eastern states papers so its nice when people post these things on BB for me!

First reaction is HOLEY CRAP!!!!
Second reaction is, although absolutely devestating and totally wrong for those effected, I'm not really surprised. I have often wondered how things dont go wrong more often. I know mistakes are made by every human being and in every workplace. It sucks completely and utterly but humans do make mistakes. It's just such a shame that these mistakes can cost people all their dreams and hopes. So sad.

[melbel]

Totally agree Sazzafraz.

It is very sad that mistakes in this case have such a human cost, I mean as humans we accept that mistakes are always going to happen, it is just devestating emotionally when it happens to you....one positive from the article though was that although IVF usage has increased by 22% the number of errors has not increased, meaning in real terms the actual percentage rate of a mistake has decreased......that's gotta be a good thing...I hope!

I wonder how our "mistake rate" compares with overseas clinics? I mean we look at this country as generally having very strict quality control in most areas, especially health...it would be interesting to see how we compare with our countries......

[Loula]

very interesting! its scary what happens behind closed doors!

I have had a few medcation errors with a melbourne clinic, they refunded me my cost for that cycle, however i did get a BFP i sadly mc very soon after my bt.

Im sure there is a lot more that happens that we are not made aware of. i have a fear of having someone elses embies tf!

[melbel]

teehee......I joke to DH about if this baby comes out a diff colour to what we are I will be asking questions.....said in the most joking non offensive kinda way if you get my drift.....

[butterfly_warrior]

I've often wondered whether "embryos failed to progress" was actually some sort of code for "we screwed up". Especially when I had only three from twenty eggs fertilise on my last cycle...

I have also wondered about just how easy it would be to get the wrong embryo transferred (very much in my mind again after seeing Private Practice the other night!). When we were in for our first embryo transfer, they called us by my first name only and took the wrong couple through - they didn't get past the first ID check, but it has made me worried.

Now, looking at Sam and how much he looks like me (in the words of a colleague yesterday, he's a BW clone), all I can say is that at least I know the clinic used the right egg. We're yet to be convinced the right sperm was used... and that's only half joking!

BW

[Lulu]

I didn't read the article, I heard it on the news and my blood ran cold.

I think you are all too kind! When I have had major surgeries, I always remember 2 nurses coming in beforehand and having one read out the tag numbers from my ankle tag AND my wrist tag out loud to each other to ensure I am the right person about to go into theatre. In fact I think this happened more than once each op.
Why don't they have the same procedures in place in a fricken lab place thingo where the transfers etc happen????????

[butterfly_warrior]

Lulu, they may have procedures like that in the lab - we just don't get to see it.

I recall when going in for EPU, I had my ID checked by the hospital nurses x2, the scientist for the clinic, the anaesthetist and the FS (wasn't always mine) and then I had to sign forms confirming that the sample we handed over was indeed DH's.

For my first transfer, I had my ID checked by someone before we even entered the transfer room, by the scientist when I got in there... and we had to confirm that it was our name written on the petri dish before they showed us the embryo we were about to transfer.

As time goes on, you become a bit more relaxed about all the checks. I remember one time I was too busy chatting with my FS and it wasn't until afterwards that I recalled I hadn't seen our name on the dish, fortunately DH was able to confirm that it was indeed there.

I think the issue is that so much of it happens where we can't see it.

BW

[marcellus]

Wow.
BW, I don't recall any procedures like that. In fact, DH forgot to write his name on his sample but the nurse told him not to worry they knew who's it was... We joked that maybe they'd mix it up - DS does bear a resemblance to the both of us, so I guess that's reassuring.