Reproductive Technology in the News

Harriet Chiang, “Mom Awarded $1 million over Embryo Mix-Up,” San Francisco Chronicle, Aug. 4, 2004, at B3. In the settlement of a malpractice lawsuit against a fertility doctor, a California woman has been awarded $1 million in damages. The woman was accidentally implanted with embryos intended for a married couple and was not notified of the error until after her son was born. The doctor, fearing that this was the woman’s last chance at pregnancy, decided not to tell her and let nature run its course. Although other experts agreed with the decision, the Medical Board of California is investigating the incident. See also, “Woman Wins Lawsuit Over Embryos,” CNN.com. Full article.

"Saviour Sibling' Babies Get Green Light," New Scientist.com, July 22, 2004. New Scientist.com reports that on July 22, 2004, the United Kingdom became the first to officially sanction the process of selecting an embryo based upon its genetic makeup for the purpose of extracting genes to aid a couple’s sick child. Full article

"Sperm Inject RNA Into Eggs at Fertilisation," New Scientist.com, May 12, 2004. A new study conducted at Wayne State University has revealed that sperm inject RNA into egg cells at the time of fertilization, contrary to prior understandings that only DNA was transferred in the process. Full article

"Savior Babies' Offer Hope to Their Ill Siblings," Chicago Tribune, May 5, 2004, at 7. A Chicago laboratory helped create five healthy babies so that they could serve as stem-cell donors for their ailing brothers and sisters.