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HOSPITAL

Italy embryo mix-up: real parents identified

DNA tests have confirmed that the embryos implanted in a woman in Rome who then became pregnant with twins are not in fact hers. The genetic parents of the twins have now been identified and informed.

Italy embryo mix-up: real parents identified
The mistake happened on December 4th at the Sandro Pertini Hospital in Rome. IVF photo: Shutterstock

The test results confirm that a mix-up occurred in the implantation of embryos at the Sandro Pertini hospital in Rome on December 4th, ANSA reported on Thursday.

A total of four women underwent fertility treatment at the hospital that day to have viable embryos implanted, three of whom became pregnant as a result of the procedure.

The fourth woman, whose treatment was unsuccessful, had threatened legal action if the twins turned out to be hers.

Quoted in Il Messaggero, the 36-year-old woman – who has not been named – said: “I just want everything to be clear. I want to know if the embryos in the mix-up are mine or not. If they are mine, obviously they are mine and my husband’s babies.”

It has now been confirmed that the twins are not hers and the biological parents of the twins have been identified and notified. 

Italy’s Heath Ministry launched an investigation after the woman who is three-months pregnant with the twins said that prenatal tests showed she was not the genetic mother.

A possible explanation for the mix-up is the similarity in the surnames of two of the couples, according to reports.

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IVF

Spain restores free IVF to singles, lesbians and now trans people

The Spanish government on Wednesday confirmed it will restore state-funded fertility treatment to singles, bisexual women and lesbians, also extending it to transgender persons capable of conceiving who can access IVF on the national health system.

Fertility treatment is now free for the majority of people in Spain. Photo: GENYA SAVILOV / AFP
Fertility treatment is now free for the majority of people in Spain. Photo: GENYA SAVILOV / AFP

The measure had long been demanded by LGBT rights groups and is part of the Socialist-led government’s drive for equality.

Fertility treatment is free in Spain, but in 2014, the conservative Popular Party government that was in power at the time, limited it to heterosexual women who have a partner, forcing others to pay for private treatment.

Since then, in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment has only been free for those with fertility problems resulting from a medical condition, or to prevent the transmission of a serious disease or disorder.

It was not available to those who were unable to conceive without having fertility problems, such as single women or lesbians.

“The government has restored the right of single women, lesbians and bisexuals to access assisted reproduction techniques within the national health system and has extended it to transgender people with gestational capacity,” a ministry statement said.

Under the new ministerial order, which came into effect on Wednesday, the service will affect some 8,500 women, according to the health ministry.

“This is a milestone,” said Health Minister Carolina Darias on signing the order, indicating it would have “an important impact on these groups, guaranteeing access to assisted reproduction techniques under equal conditions”.

“Spain is a world leader in public health and in rights for women and the LGBTI community,” she added.

Despite the conservative government’s move to limit the service seven years ago, many of Spain’s 17 regions, which are responsible for their own healthcare policy, refused to enforce it.

Spain’s current government, which describes itself as feminist, has a record number of women serving in the cabinet.

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