A couple who discovered they had given birth to a child not biologically related to them following an IVF mix-up have successfully identified the genetic parents of their daughter. Tiffany Score and Steven Mills welcomed their daughter, Shea, in December last year after receiving fertility treatment from a now-closed clinic in Orlando, Florida, where their embryo was mistakenly implanted in another couple.
Upon realizing that Shea did not resemble them, Tiffany and Steven conducted a DNA test, confirming that the child was not their biological offspring. Subsequently, they filed a negligence lawsuit against the clinic and Dr. Milton McNichol in January, seeking to locate Shea’s biological parents.
After making their situation public, another couple who had also undergone treatment at the same clinic came forward suspecting that their embryo might have been involved in the mix-up. Both families agreed to DNA testing, which revealed that the second couple are indeed Shea’s genetic parents.
Despite their deep emotional attachment to Shea, Tiffany and Steven feel obligated both legally and morally to allow the biological parents to claim their daughter if they wish. Should the second family choose not to take custody, Tiffany and Steven are committed to raising Shea themselves.
In a statement released by their legal representatives, Tiffany and Steven expressed the conclusion of one part of their challenging journey but acknowledged the unresolved issues regarding their own embryos. The Fertility Center of Orlando recently announced its closure due to legal and financial difficulties, following an investigation into the incorrect implantation of embryos that led to the birth of a non-genetically related child.
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