Many couples who have difficulty conceiving naturally turn to in vitro fertilization (IVF) to conceive children. Like any other medical procedure, there are risks that accompany IVF. Some of these are the same risks that accompany other procedures, like medication and surgical errors. Also like with other medical procedures, there are certain risks that are linked to IVF treatment.

Below are a few examples of issues that can arise with IVF treatment. When they occur because of a healthcare provider’s negligence, they are grounds for medical malpractice claims.

Poor Treatment Management Can Result in Injury or Health Problems

When you undergo IVF treatment, you undergo it with a doctor’s close supervision. When a doctor does not supervise an IVF plan closely, harmful errors can occur. A few examples of these include:

• The embryo implanting in the recipient’s fallopian tube, resulting in an ectopic pregnancy;

• Missing signs of distress or potential birth defects from the fetus;

• Losing or destroying gametes or fertilized embryos from the couple;

• Failing to perform necessary tests like per-implantation genetic testing;

• If the couple works with an egg or sperm donor, failing to properly screen the donor; and

• Inseminating the woman with the wrong sperm.

Mixups Can Result in a Woman Carrying Another Couple’s Embryo

Physician negligence can result in a couple’s fertilized embryo being mixed up with another and the wrong embryo being implanted into the woman’s uterus, causing distress to them and potentially the correct recipients of the embryo. Although this is rare, it can happen.

Unintended Multiple Pregnancies Can be Dangerous

Multiple pregnancies, pregnancies involving one or more embryo, have a higher risk for complications than pregnancies involving only one embryo. Often, multiple embryos are created to be used in each IVF cycle. When too many embryos are implanted, they are not only at risk, but the mother’s health can be put at risk too. Often, couples have to face the difficult decision to terminate one or more of the embryos, a situation that can sometimes be prevented with better physician oversight.

Work with an Experienced Chicago Medical Malpractice Lawyer

IVF treatment is not without its risks. That said, IVF complications are not always due to medical negligence. Your doctor can do everything correctly and you can still suffer a complication or the treatment can fail. The difference is whether you received care according to the standard of care for IVF treatment and whether you were fully informed of these risks. To discuss your case in greater detail to determine if you have grounds for a medical malpractice claim, contact our team of medical malpractice lawyers at Baizer Kolar, P.C. today to set up your initial consultation in our office.