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IVF Mix-Up: Parents Seek Biological Child's Origins
1 Mar
Summary
- A couple discovered their IVF baby was not genetically theirs.
- Multiple families believe they may be related to the infant.
- Legal proceedings are underway to identify biological parents.
Tiffany Score and Steven Mills, a Florida couple, have initiated legal proceedings after discovering their IVF-treated newborn, Shea, is not biologically theirs. The mix-up occurred at the Fertility Center of Orlando, involving Dr. Milton McNichol. This situation has led to over a dozen individuals coming forward, believing they might be Shea's biological parents or questioning the parentage of their own IVF children.
The couple's attorney, Jack Scarola, stated that his office has been inundated with calls from concerned families. In response, a judge has ordered free genetic testing for patients whose implantation occurred in April 2025, the same month as Score and Mills' procedure. One couple is currently awaiting results, which are expected by the first week of March.
A second group of approximately 20 patients who underwent harvesting in March 2020, alongside Score and Mills, will also undergo testing. Score and Mills also harbor concerns about the fate of their frozen embryos, including a viable male embryo. Legal progress has been slow due to privacy concerns raised by the clinic's and doctor's legal teams.
Despite the emotional turmoil and the fear that Shea's biological parents could seek custody, Score and Mills have bonded with their now two-month-old daughter. They feel a moral obligation to find her genetic parents and plan to expand their search if necessary. A GoFundMe has been established to support their efforts, including the potential use of frozen eggs Tiffany previously preserved. The next court hearing is scheduled for March 4.
