Aside from legal and ethical ramifications, this is a heartbreaking story.
A woman who had an embryo implanted received a call from the clinic tell her the good news - she was pregnant. Then the bad news - the baby was not biologically hers. The wrong embryo was implanted accidentally and the baby belonged to another couple who had received treatment from the same clinic.
The devastated couple decided almost immediately that they would carry the baby to term and return him to his biological parents.
Genetic testing has been completed and the woman gave birth to a baby boy this week. He has been given to his biological parents and twin sisters.
The couple who handed over the baby have asked for privacy in order to get through such a difficult time, but took time to congratulate the new parents.
Obviously this is an enormously difficult time for those parents and also a time of transition for the biological parents who were not prepared for another child. The clinic who made the error remains unnamed.
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What do you think you would do in a situation like this?
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My heart broke for both couples when I read about this.
I can't imagine being the mom who knew she was carrying another mom's baby to term instead of her own; and I can't imagine being the mom who suddenly learns that another woman is carrying her child. There are so many emotions on each side.
I think the pregnant mom made the only decision that it was possible for her to make and live with. Terminating the pregnancy would have meant more heartbreak for all involved; and fighting to keep the child that wasn't biologically hers would have been complicated and would ultimately have hurt the baby the most.
No easy answers to this one, just a few people trying to do the best they can in amazing circumstances.
September 28, 2009 - 8:45amThis Comment