Couple Sues Fertility Clinic Over Disputed Parentage

A couple in Florida has filed a lawsuit against a fertility clinic after discovering that their newly born child does not appear to be biologically theirs.

Stephen Mills and Tiffany Score welcomed a “beautiful, healthy baby girl” in December. However, they soon noticed similarities in their daughter’s appearance that sparked concerns about her racial background. The couple, who are white, pursued genetic testing to validate their suspicions about parentage.

The lawsuit claims that an Orlando fertility center mistakenly implanted the wrong embryo into Score’s uterus five years after they had frozen their embryos at the facility.

Filed on January 22 in Orange County, Florida, the suit expresses serious worries about the implications of their case, noting, “Of equal concern to Plaintiffs is the distinct possibility that another person may have had one or more implanted embryos and become pregnant, or may be pregnant and currently raising a child.”

The couple requested the clinic to help locate their biological child’s genetic parents and to investigate what occurred with their frozen embryos, but it seems those efforts have yielded no results.

The lawsuit further demands that the clinic cover the costs of genetic testing for any child born from embryos transferred at their facility in the last five years.

In the complaint, it was stated, “Tiffany and Stephen developed an extremely strong emotional bond with the unborn child Tiffany carried during her nine months of pregnancy, and despite knowing that Shea was a genetically non-matching child, the emotional bond grew stronger every minute that Shea remained in their care.” They expressed that while they are committed to protecting the child, there is a moral responsibility to connect her with her genetic parents if they are capable and willing.

During a recent emergency hearing, it was revealed that the clinic had previously agreed to conduct genetic testing. However, the clinic’s attorney, Francis Pierce III, raised concerns over privacy issues concerning the testing of other children born through the facility, stating, “Patients must agree to be tested.” He mentioned that the legal teams from both sides are working towards an early settlement.

Additionally, the clinic’s director, Dr. Milton McNicol, faced a $5,000 fine in May 2024 due to a routine inspection that uncovered equipment failing to meet “performance standards” and other compliance issues.

Efforts have been made to contact both the clinic’s attorney and Dr. McNicol for further comments.