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๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ‡ฐ Hong Kong /Disasters & Emergencies

Hong Kong fertility clinic probed after sending wrong embryo samples for DNA testing

From Hong Kong Free Press · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Hong Kong authorities are investigating Heal Fertility Centre for allegedly sending incorrect embryo specimens for DNA testing.
  • The incidents involved two couples in May, where embryo specimens did not belong to the parents, according to a council member.
  • The clinic has suspended fertility services and will offer counseling and free genetic testing for infants born through its services.

Hong Kong's Secretary for Health, Lo Chung-mau, announced on Wednesday that authorities are investigating Heal Fertility Centre after it allegedly sent the wrong embryo specimens from two couples for DNA testing. The incidents, which occurred in May, have been reported to the police.

The situation nos superรณ un poco. Nos dedicamos a las emergencias pero aquello era algo muy grande.

โ€” Paco Lรณpez CoboRecounting the scale of the earthquake disaster in La Guaira, Venezuela.

The Council on Human Reproductive Technology stated that the clinic sent incorrect specimens to the Chinese University of Hong Kong for pre-implantation genetic diagnosis. In one case, six of seven specimens did not belong to the parents, and in another, neither of the two specimens did. The council was notified on June 17 and reported the case to the Department of Health on July 3.

The Department of Health found the clinic violated the Private Healthcare Facilities Ordinance by not reporting the incident within 24 hours. The council has ordered the clinic to suspend all fertility services. While the clinic claims no actual embryos were mixed up or incorrectly implanted, the council is investigating potential human error or criminal involvement.

La sensaciรณn agridulce de dejar descanso a muchas familias que tenรญan la intriga de saber si su familiar estaba vivo.

โ€” Paco Lรณpez CoboDescribing the team's mixed feelings after concluding their search for survivors in La Guaira.

Heal Fertility Centre has suspended all fertility treatments and will provide counseling to the affected couples. The clinic also offered free consultations, counseling, and genetic matching to all current and past patients. For infants previously born through the clinic's services, genetic identification testing will be provided at no cost if required. The clinic stated it has performed genetic re-verification for all patients who sent specimens for testing.

No es nada sencillo realizar un rescate, son tareas complicadas y segรบn pasan las horas las posibilidades de supervivencia se van reduciendo.

โ€” Cรฉsar ClarosExplaining the challenges and diminishing chances of survival in complex rescue operations.
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Originally published by Hong Kong Free Press. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.