Orlando, Florida – A Florida woman who gave birth last month has filed a lawsuit against an IVF clinic, claiming the baby she delivered has no genetic relationship to either her or her husband. The case has raised serious concerns about embryo handling and transparency at fertility centers.
According to court documents reviewed by The Independent, the lawsuit names The Fertility Center of Orlando as the defendant and alleges a major error during the embryo implantation process.
Couple Began IVF Treatment Earlier This Year
The lawsuit identifies the parents as John and Jane Doe to protect their privacy. The couple began fertility treatment at the Orlando clinic in March 2025, seeking assistance in conceiving a child using their own embryos.
According to the filing, Jane Doe underwent an embryo implantation procedure that she believed contained genetic material from both herself and her husband. The pregnancy progressed normally, and she carried the child to full term without complications.
In early December, Jane Doe gave birth to what the lawsuit describes as a “beautiful, healthy female child,” identified in court records as Baby Doe.
Parents Noticed Discrepancy After Birth
Shortly after birth, the couple noticed what they described as a concerning discrepancy. While both parents are racially Caucasian, the baby appeared to be of a different race.
“While both Jane Doe and John Doe are racially Caucasian, Baby Doe displayed the physical appearance of a racially non-Caucasian child,” the lawsuit states.
The unexpected difference prompted the couple to pursue genetic testing to confirm the baby’s parentage.
Genetic Testing Revealed No Biological Relationship
The lawsuit says DNA testing confirmed that Baby Doe has no genetic relationship to either parent.
“The testing confirmed that Baby Doe has no genetic relationship to either of the Plaintiffs,” the filing states.
Of particular concern to the couple is the possibility that one or more of their embryos may have been mistakenly implanted into another patient, who could now be raising their biological child.
“Of equal concern is the obvious possibility that someone else was implanted with one or more of their embryos and is presently parenting one or more of their children,” the lawsuit adds.
Emotional Bond Complicates the Case
Despite learning that Baby Doe is not genetically related to them, the couple says they have formed a deep emotional bond with the child.
The lawsuit states that the parents would be willing to continue raising the baby but believe she should ultimately be reunited with her biological family if they are fit and willing.
“They would willingly keep her in their care; however, for the sake of both Baby Doe and her genetic parents, they recognize that Baby Doe should legally and morally be united with her genetic parents,” the filing says.
The couple also says they are experiencing growing mental anguish over not knowing whether their own biological child may be in someone else’s custody.
Clinic Allegedly Failed to Respond to Requests
According to reporting from News 6 Orlando, the couple asked the clinic to help identify the baby’s biological parents but never received a response.
The Fertility Center of Orlando has been contacted for comment, but it remains unclear which law firm represents the clinic or the doctor named in the lawsuit. Attorneys representing the couple have also been contacted for further comment.
Lawsuit Seeks Emergency Court Action
The lawsuit requests emergency relief that would require the clinic to notify all relevant patients about the alleged error. The couple is asking the court to compel the clinic to disclose whether any other families may have been affected.
Additionally, the suit demands that the clinic pay for genetic testing for all potentially impacted patients and their children over the past five years — the period during which the clinic had custody of the couple’s embryos.
The filing also asks the clinic to disclose any discrepancies in parentage involving children born from embryo implantation during that same time frame.
Case Raises Broader Questions About IVF Oversight
The lawsuit underscores growing concerns about oversight, accountability, and transparency within fertility clinics. Legal experts note that cases involving embryo mix-ups can have long-lasting emotional, ethical, and legal consequences for all families involved.
The case is now pending in court as the couple seeks answers — not only about how the mistake occurred, but also about the fate of their own biological embryos.
