Women give birth to each other's babies and raise them after fertility clinic mix-up

9 November 2021, 19:23

Daphna and Alexander Cardinale raised a baby for three months that was not theirs
Daphna and Alexander Cardinale raised a baby for three months that was not theirs. Picture: Peiffer Wolf Carr Kane & Conway

By Daisy Stephens

Two couples gave birth to one another's babies after a mix-up at a fertility clinic and subsequently spent months raising children that were not theirs, according to a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles.

The lawsuit claims the California Centre for Reproductive Health (CCRH) implanted the embryos into the wrong women, resulting in both women carrying, birthing and, for three months, raising, a child that was not biologically theirs.

The babies, both girls, were born a week apart in September 2019.

It was not until DNA tests were carried out that the parents were told they had been implanted with the wrong embryos.

Daphna Cardinale said she and her husband, Alexander, had immediate suspicions that the girl she gave birth to in late 2019 was not theirs because the child had a darker complexion than they do.

But she said they suppressed their doubts because they fell in love with the baby and trusted their doctors.

Read more: Boris Johnson slammed for 'irresponsibly parading' around hospital unmasked

Read more: Raab: The whole Government regrets how we handled 'Tory sleaze' row

She said learning months alter she had been pregnant with another couple's baby, and that another woman had carried hers, caused enduring trauma.

"I was overwhelmed by feelings of fear, betrayal, anger and heartbreak," Daphna said during a news conference with her husband announcing the lawsuit.

She said she was "robbed" of the experience of carrying her own child, adding: "I never had the opportunity to grow and bond with her during pregnancy, to feel her kick."

The couples swapped infants back in January 2020, with all four parents making an effort to stay in each other's lives and "forge a larger family", Daphna said.

Alexander said the other couple were just as much in love with his and Daphna's biological daughter as they were with theirs.

Daphna described breaking the news to her older daughter, who is now seven, as "the hardest thing in my life".

"My heart breaks for her, perhaps the most," she said.

The Cardinales' complaint accuses the CCRH and its owner, Dr Eliran Mor, of medical malpractice, breach of contract, negligence and fraud, and demands a jury trial and seeks unspecified damages.

Yvonne Telles, the office administrator for the centre, declined to comment on Monday.

Dr Mor could not be reached for comment.

The two other parents involved in the alleged mix-up wish to remain anonymous and plan a similar lawsuit in the coming days, according to lawyer Adam Wolf, who represents all four parents.

Read more: Covid vaccines 'to be mandatory for frontline NHS staff in England'

Read more: PM under pressure after skipping sleaze debate and minister admitted Gov made 'mistake'

"The Cardinales, including their young daughter, fell in love with this child, and were terrified she would be taken away from them," the complaint says.

"All the while, Alexander and Daphna did not know the whereabouts of their own embryo, and thus were terrified that another woman had been pregnant with their child - and their child was out in the world somewhere without them."

Mr Wolf, whose firm specialises in fertility cases, called for greater oversight for IVF clinics.

"This case highlights an industry in desperate need of federal regulation," he said.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Steam and exhaust rise from different companies on a cold winter day.

UN scientists warn it is ‘crunch time’ to avoid further global warming as climate policies ‘moving in wrong direction’

Exclusive
Waste water flows out of an outflow waste water pipe into the river in Devon UK

Water company fines will be used to clean up rivers, lakes and seas, government confirms

Energy bill discounts of £150 will be extended to another 2.7 million households to help with fuel costs next winter.

Millions more households to get £150 energy bill discounts as government extends scheme to help with fuel costs

‘I like to make decisions at the last second': Trump continues to mull US strike but suggests Iran could visit White House

‘I like to decide at the last second': Trump continues to mull US strike but suggests Iran could visit White House

A bag from Primark, found in the Weija Ashbread landfill, an older textile dump site sited on the Densu river, upriver from the protected wetlands, outside Accra, Ghana.

'This is dangerous': Discarded clothes from UK brands including Next, Asda and M&S found in protected Ghana wetlands

School crossing lollipop sign

Lollipop man ordered to stop high-fiving crossing children

Dame Diana Johnson said “there is absolutely no place for violent, misogynistic and harmful content online”, after several MPs urged the Government to expand the definition of “extreme pornographic images”.

‘No place for violent content online,’ says policing minister in pornography ban pledge

Missing Jay Slater witness found 'holidaying' in Tenerife as inquest hears Jay, 19, died with alcohol in his system

Friend of missing Jay Slater witness reveals details of 'two knives' carried by teen on the night he died in Tenerife

Devastating new footage has emerged showing the lone survivor of the Air India plane crash carrying the coffin of his younger brother, who died in the fatal disaster.

New video shows heartbreaking moment lone Air India survivor limps as he carries brother’s coffin at funeral

Claire Boyd underwent surgery in a bid to address a long history of abdominal pain

Family walks out of inquest after coroner rejects malnutrition in hospital death

Inquests into the deaths of the women, who were both born in Pakistan but lived in Maltsby, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, were opened on Wednesday.

Sisters drown in pools on popular Snowdonia route, inquest told

A police cordon blocking the inside lane of the northbound carriageway on the M1 motorway near Bucknalls Lane overpass in Hertfordshire, where a man's body was found by road workers on Monday.

Horror crash sees M1 closed 'in both directions' with emergency services including air ambulance in attendance

Bruce Springsteen performs on stage

First look at upcoming Bruce Springsteen biopic starring Jeremy Allen White divides fans

Liz Kendall, Work and Pensions Secretary and Labour MP for Leicester West spoke to LBC's Tom Swarbrick.

Liz Kendall unable to say how much the changes in the Welfare Bill announced today will end up costing

Exclusive
Brexit has unleashed ‘backstreet medicine’ across Britain, warns leading pharmacist

Brexit has unleashed ‘backstreet medicine’ across Britain, warns leading pharmacist

The record breaking ticket was bought in Munster. It is still unclaimed

'Have a cup of tea and let it sink in': Lottery bosses message to record Euromillions winner as prize yet unclaimed