IVF clinic’s embryo specimen mix-up linked to ‘intentional unlawful conduct’

A mix-up of embryo biopsy specimens may have been caused by “intentional unlawful conduct” at a private fertility clinic, which breached the code of practice for reproductive technology by lacking sufficient protective measures, a Hong Kong regulator has found.

The Council on Human Reproductive Technology said on Friday that, following an investigation into the incident, it had ordered service provider Heal Fertility to comply with the Human Reproductive Technology Ordinance and the code to prevent any recurrence of similar incidents.

“The council confirmed that no embryos were mixed up or wrongly implanted into the human body in the incident,” it said.

The council also put the clinic’s licence under review.

It concluded that “intentional unlawful conduct by an individual” was the main cause of the embryo biopsy specimen mix-up at Heal Fertility’s clinic in Central.

The council said it would continue to provide professional support to police in an ongoing criminal investigation into the case.