Fertility clinic implants embryos into wrong women

A fertility clinic is being sued by at least two couples, including one from New York, after embryos were implanted in the wrong women.

News 12 Staff

Jul 11, 2019, 11:49 AM

Updated 1,751 days ago

Share:

A fertility clinic is being sued by at least two couples, including one from New York, after embryos were implanted in the wrong women.
The CHA Fertility Center in Los Angeles is accused of mishandling embryos by at  least three families. "CHA robbed me of my ability to carry my own child, my baby boy, to be with him in the first couple, you know, moments of his life," says mother Anni Manukyan.
In August 2018, two embryos were implanted into Manukyan.
The procedure didn't produce a pregnancy, devastating Manukyan and her husband Ashot.
But the couple soon found out a Manukyan embryo did develop, and a woman in New York gave birth to that baby. Then, they discovered the embryos inserted into Manukyan came from a different couple.
The entire mix-up was discovered when the Asian birth parents in New York questioned having non-Asian twins. "Due to the extreme misconduct of CHA Fertility Center, the number of things that went wrong here is just plain staggering," says attorney Adam Wolf.
The Manukyans spent the next few weeks getting more information on their biological son and had to sue to obtain custody of their own child.
They first saw him at 6 weeks old. "Who wants to meet their child in the lobby of a hotel?  It was just - it was heartbreaking. It was terrible," says Manukyan.
The Manukyans are suing CHA, as is the birth couple from New York. The couple in New York, not only had to give up the baby, but also a second baby who was implanted incorrectly. That baby went to yet another couple, his genetic parents.
But after all this heartache, it’s been a happy ending for the Manukyans. Their child, Alec, is healthy and bonding with his biological parents.


More from News 12
2:24
Movie theater experience: A close look at the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville

Movie theater experience: A close look at the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville

2:21
Chilly temps in the Hudson Valley will warm up as afternoon sunshine rolls in

Chilly temps in the Hudson Valley will warm up as afternoon sunshine rolls in

1:23
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators rally in Irvington during President Biden's visits to Westchester

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators rally in Irvington during President Biden's visits to Westchester

0:26
Hudson Valley communities receive bronze Climate Smart Certification

Hudson Valley communities receive bronze Climate Smart Certification

0:23
Rockland County sues New York state over when elections can be held

Rockland County sues New York state over when elections can be held

0:21
Greenwood Lake Board of Trustees appoints interim mayor

Greenwood Lake Board of Trustees appoints interim mayor

0:23
Police: 18-year-old facing charges in Walden shooting

Police: 18-year-old facing charges in Walden shooting

0:48
President Biden announces future opening of upstate microchip factory

President Biden announces future opening of upstate microchip factory

1:53
Shop Mother’s Day Gifts – Exclusive Offers Up to 75% OFF!

Shop Mother’s Day Gifts – Exclusive Offers Up to 75% OFF!

0:21
Rockland County DA: Haverstraw man pleads guilty in sexual abuse of 2 children

Rockland County DA: Haverstraw man pleads guilty in sexual abuse of 2 children

0:51
Indian Point oversight board, Holtec discuss decommissioning options of former nuclear plant

Indian Point oversight board, Holtec discuss decommissioning options of former nuclear plant

0:47
State police: DNA sample from human remains found does not match profile of missing Putnam teen

State police: DNA sample from human remains found does not match profile of missing Putnam teen

0:31
New mural of Yonkers hip-hop legend Mary J. Blige unveiled at Palisade Towers

New mural of Yonkers hip-hop legend Mary J. Blige unveiled at Palisade Towers

0:35
Police find evidence in burglary while investigating a domestic dispute in Monroe

Police find evidence in burglary while investigating a domestic dispute in Monroe

0:30
Wake services held for the Westchester correction officer who died in Bronx River Parkway crash

Wake services held for the Westchester correction officer who died in Bronx River Parkway crash

Motorists encounter traffic delays, road closures in and around Irvington during President Joe Biden's visit

Motorists encounter traffic delays, road closures in and around Irvington during President Joe Biden's visit

1:42
Newburgh senior housing manager asks city for help protecting residents

Newburgh senior housing manager asks city for help protecting residents

0:25
Dramatic video captures car fire in Nanuet

Dramatic video captures car fire in Nanuet

0:24
New York appeals court overturns Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction from landmark #MeToo trial

New York appeals court overturns Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction from landmark #MeToo trial

0:24
Breeze Airways expands services from Westchester County Airport

Breeze Airways expands services from Westchester County Airport