Jan 31, 2026
3 min read
The lawsuit involves a Florida medical center where a family claims their daughter's birth was genetically incompatible and seeks action to find biological parents.
A serious error at a fertility clinic in central Florida, in the United States, has sparked a lawsuit that reveals the challenges of assisted reproduction treatments.According to WKMG News 6, a couple, Steven Mills and Tiffany Score, claim that Longwood Medical Center, operated by IVF Life Inc under the name Orlando Fertility Center, mistakenly implanted an embryo that was not theirs, and this led to the birth of a girl who has no genetic connection to them.
The lawsuit was filed by the couple on Jan. 22, and an Orange County judge will force the clinic to report other patients whose embryos were stored at the center a year before birth, the Orlando Sentinel reported.In addition, the hospital is required to fund genetic testing for any births it performs in the past five years to identify such cases.
Likewise, they are also requesting detailed reports on the fate of their fetuses. Three fetuses have remained frozen since 2020, according to the clinic. Defense attorney Jack Scarola suggested that while Mills and Score were happy with the girl, there was still concern that she was someone else's biological daughter and someone could claim custody in the future.
The lawsuit states that the couple feels a "moral and legal responsibility" to find the girl's biological parents and inform them of the situation.In the meantime, the legal process of the case is ongoing and is awaiting a decision that will provide clarity and answers to all involved parties.
Your child was born
In March 2025, the embryo was implanted into the mother, resulting in a baby girl born in December, USA Today reported.
The moment Steven Mills and Tiffany Schorr realized something was wrong with their daughter's birth was the start of an unexpected crisis.Despite the fact that they are both Caucasian, they noticed that the baby, born on December 11, had physical characteristics that did not match his background, causing immediate concern.
Faced with these doubts, the couple decided to undergo genetic tests to confirm biological parentage.The results showed they were not genetically related to either of them, Florida media reported.The confirmation caused a strong emotional impact, as the couple formed a deep emotional connection during the pregnancy that continued to grow stronger after the birth.
The defendants explained that although the parents were engaged to a minor, they felt a moral and legal obligation to find a biological parent.She is still committed to protecting her well-being while the situation is resolved.
The legal backlash was strong.They filed the lawsuit after unsuccessfully trying to get an explanation from the intensive care clinic.The lawsuit requires emergency measures to be taken to notify all potentially affected patients.
In an emergency hearing before Judge Margaret Schreiber, lawyers for both sides said they were working to reach a settlement quickly.The Orlando Center agreed in advance to perform the required genetic testing.During the virtual hearing, Mills and Shore held a sleeping baby in their arms as legal representatives from both sides discussed next steps.
Part of the settlement requires the clinic to provide detailed information about the embryos it stored at the time of the incident and to provide a copy of the lawsuit, along with the girl's photo, to other patients who may have been infected.
The clinic's attorney, Francis Pearce III, raised concerns about patient privacy and the need to obtain consent to conduct the tests.He also said the results of these studies could take four to six weeks, although they are looking at options to speed up the process.
The judge ordered the parties to submit specific and detailed plans by Friday, stressing the importance of balancing the interests of the plaintiffs and protecting the rights of other patients, saying there is no specific Florida statute to resolve these disputes.
Another hit with the clinic
Orlando Fertility Center case, his German Milton Macon Macinhol, they are the framework,
In May 2024, the Florida Board of Medicine fined Dr. McNichol $5,000 following an inspection of the Longwood facility in June 2023. During this review, government officials identified various deficiencies, such as equipment not meeting required performance standards, failures in risk management, and shortages of essential medications. As part of the disciplinary action, the doctor was required to complete an additional five hours of training in laws, regulations and medical ethics.
Despite this background, the doctor has a well-known background in the field of fertility.He graduated from Loma Linda University School of Medicine in 2004 and has received several awards, including six patient awards and four Compassionate Doctor awards.In 2014, he was named one of Florida's 10 Best Doctors, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
After the error was discovered, the clinic published a notice on its website, noting that patients are "actively cooperating with the investigation to help" determine the source of the error that resulted in the birth of a child who is not of the same gender as them.But this letter was removed after the court.
