A couple from Florida is claiming that a mistake at a fertility clinic led to the birth of a “non-white child” who is not biologically theirs, as stated in their lawsuit.
Tiffany Score and Stephen Mills allege that IVF Life, a fertility clinic in Orlando, and its lead doctor, Dr. Milton McNicol, mistakenly implanted another patient’s embryo into Score’s uterus back in April 2025. This has recently come to light, as reported on Thursday.
In 2020, the couple had stored three viable embryos at the clinic, renowned for its “advanced infertility treatments” and “state-of-the-art technology” for in vitro fertilization, where embryos are created and preserved until needed for pregnancy.
Fast forward five years, on December 11, 2025, after transferring an embryo, the couple welcomed a “beautiful, healthy baby girl,” according to a lawsuit filed on January 22 in Orange County Circuit Court.
Upon the child’s birth, the couple quickly realized something was amiss since they are both “white,” yet the baby displayed traits of a “non-white child,” as highlighted in the lawsuit.
Genetic tests later confirmed that the baby was “not genetically related” to either parent.
John Scarola, the couple’s lawyer, sent a letter to the clinic on January 5, demanding that the genetic parents be informed and questioning the circumstances surrounding the mix-up.
They’re not just concerned about this incident; they also fear that their embryos might be implanted in someone else, leading to an entirely different situation.
Throughout the pregnancy, the couple developed a “very strong emotional bond” with the baby and continued to care for her afterward, as reported.
While they plan to raise her themselves, they also feel a legal and moral duty to connect her with her biological parents if that’s their wish.
Scarola mentioned, “They fell in love with this kid.” He added that, while they would be thrilled to raise her, their worry is that the child could potentially be taken from them.
The lawsuit is asking for urgent court action to compel the clinic to notify all affected patients, fund comprehensive genetic testing, and determine if other families might have been impacted by this error.
Dr. McNicol, who earned his medical degree in 2004 from Loma Linda University, is well-regarded by both patients and colleagues. He has received accolades, including six Patient Choice Awards and four Compassionate Doctor Awards.
During an emergency hearing, Scarola pointed out that the error could have happened during implantation in either 2020 or 2025, and he sought five years of genetic testing covered by the clinic.
Dr. Scarola labeled the mix-up a “terrible mistake” and noted that while such errors are rare, coming to a resolution is complex due to the absence of clear legal precedents.
Judge Margaret Shriver remarked that Florida has limited laws to address solutions that would meet the needs of the plaintiffs and protect the defendants.
Previously, the clinic stated on its website—though the post has since been removed—that it was “actively cooperating with the investigation to help one of our patients determine the cause of the error that resulted in the birth of a genetically unrelated child.”
