Krystena Murray underwent in vitro fertilisation (IVF) in 2023, unaware that a mix-up at the fertility clinic led to her giving birth to another couple’s child. In December 2023, she delivered a healthy baby boy, instantly recognising that he did not originate from her fertilised eggs; he was Black, while she and her sperm donor are both white. Murray later discovered that the clinic had mistakenly transferred another patient’s embryo into her.
Despite her desire to raise the child, the clinic informed the biological parents, who sought custody. Facing a legal battle she felt she couldn’t win, Murray relinquished the baby after five months. Feeling violated, she has filed a civil lawsuit against Coastal Fertility Specialists, citing negligence and seeking damages for emotional distress.
Murray expressed profound sorrow and confusion over the ordeal, stating she had always wanted to be a mother. The clinic has since apologised, describing the incident as an unprecedented error and claiming it has implemented new safeguards. However, questions remain about how the error occurred, and Murray’s plight highlights the serious implications of mistakes in fertility treatments. She still does not know the fate of her embryos and asserts that no one should endure the agony of unknowingly birthing someone else’s child.