A Florida couple, Tiffany Score and Steven Mills, who welcomed a child genetically unrelated to them after an alleged embryo mix-up at a fertility clinic, will raise the child as their own after reaching an agreement with the child’s biological parents.
IVF Mix-up and Lawsuit
The couple had solicited the services of the now-defunct fertility clinic IVF Life, Inc. to assist them in the IVF process and contracted with the clinic for cryogenic storage of three viable embryos. However, the clinic allegedly implanted an embryo in Score’s uterus that was not one of the embryos produced by her and her partner.
When their daughter, Shea, was born in December, Score and Mills said their daughter displayed the physical appearance of a racially non-Caucasian child. They then used genetic testing and confirmed the baby was not biologically related to them.
Agreement and Custody
Score and Mills said they have come to a mutually devised custody agreement with Shea’s biological parents and plan to develop a relationship of friendship and trust together. The pair will continue to raise Shea as their own and will remain her custodial parents, according to the custody agreement filed on June 12.
The couple’s attorney, Jack Scarola, said Score and Mills appreciate how news of their mix-up helped connect them with Shea’s biological parents. Scarola added that the couple is committed to respecting the privacy concerns of Shea’s genetic parents and protecting Shea from harmful intrusion on her privacy.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.