Georgia woman sues IVF clinic after giving birth to wrong baby

A woman in Georgia has filed a lawsuit against a fertility clinic after an IVF mix-up led her to carry and give birth to a baby that was not biologically hers. She was later forced to relinquish custody of the child.

Krystena Murray underwent in-vitro fertilization (IVF) at Coastal Fertility Clinic in May 2023, believing she was carrying an embryo created from her own egg and a chosen sperm donor. 

However, when she gave birth to a baby boy in December 2023, it became evident that he was of a different ethnicity than both herself and the donor.

Despite the discovery, Murray cared for the child for several months and wanted to keep him. However, after confirming through an at-home DNA test in January 2024 that they were not genetically related, she notified the clinic. The clinic then informed the baby’s biological parents, who pursued legal action to gain custody.

Although deeply bonded with the child, Murray ultimately surrendered custody after her legal counsel advised that she had no chance of retaining parental rights. The baby, now living with his biological parents in another state under a new name, was three months old at the time of the transition.

The lawsuit against Coastal Fertility Specialists raises concerns about how the mix-up occurred. Murray remains uncertain whether her embryo was implanted in another patient or what became of it.

This case is one of several legal battles in recent years involving fertility clinics in the U.S., highlighting the risks associated with IVF—a process in which a woman’s eggs are fertilized outside the body before being transferred to the uterus.