On Monday morning, I saw a news story on ABC’s Good Morning America about a couple who was suing an IVF clinic. I believe it was a clinic in New York, but don’t quote me on that. I was in the middle of boiling apples in the kitchen for my 11-month-old and repeatedly sitting my toddler back down and telling her to eat another bite of her cereal (she can take 2 hours to eat one meal if not). I did manage to catch the main reason the couple was suing the clinic for, though. They claimed the clinic was supposed to have implanted 2 embryos for them in their attempts to conceive but confirmed (at another facility) that only one was in fact implanted. They also claim the clinic lost one of their embryos in storage for 18 months - precious time lost in their family planning.
The clinic has denied all claims. I have no idea the strength of the couple’s case, but it did spark my interest. I know several people that chose to undergo IVF treatments, all but one ending with success. From them, I have heard bits and pieces of their struggles and concerns throughout the process (regarding the costs, the time commitments, and the probabilities). So, I can only imagine feeling as though you were lied to after so much sacrifice.
But what can you do about it?
You can only do what is in your power. And while there is a risk of failure in the process to begin with, doing the following can increase your chances of success overall.
- Research
Do not choose a clinic or doctor without doing some due diligence. Many times, people go with the first center listed as in-network with their insurance provider. Other times, people choose a facility solely based on how close it is to their home. But this is a very important life event you are planning for, so make sure to cast your net wider. There are plenty of sites out there that let you check provider ratings. Even Google reviews can be insightful at times. Also, visit SART.org for information specific to assisted reproductive services.
- Interview doctors
Schedule more than one consultation. In your consultations, ask lots of questions such as “what are the success rates in your practice”, “what hours is your facility open”, and “how many of these types of procedures have you performed”. Be prepared for the meeting, take notes, and listen to your gut instincts.
- Ask for referrals
You may have friends/coworkers that have gone through the process. If you feel comfortable enough, ask them about their experiences. Also, look for social media groups or hospital support groups for women that may have gone through the process. These women can be a wealth of information. They may be able to share some things they wish they had known before undergoing their treatments.
Maybe these suggestions would not have helped the couple in the lawsuit. After all, there is no real way to know the inner-workings of a facility enough to say if they might lose stored embryos, but I am certain if you read a review of a past customer claiming it happened to them, you’d surely think twice of giving the facility your business and trust.
