A recent mishap at a fertility clinic in Ohio has left numerous families grieving. Last March, a freezer malfunction at the University Hospitals Fertility Clinic in Cleveland resulted in a temperature fluctuation in the liquid nitrogen tank holding the eggs and embryos of multiple patients. The fluctuation affected more than 4,000 eggs and embryos, impacting the lives of nearly 950 families.
The number of eggs and embryos stored in the United States rises each year. The reliable storage of these specimens is extremely important. The eggs and embryos stored are often a couple’s last hope of starting a family of their own.
The Malfunction Could Have Been Prevented
An investigation at the Cleveland facility found that the remote alarm system on the refrigeration equipment was turned off. When working properly, this system sends an alert to notify employees when temperatures inside the tank begin to rise. The facility claims they do not know how long the alarm system was disarmed, but it appeared to have been off for quite some time.
According to employees at the facility, the affected tank had been experiencing problems for several weeks prior to its failure. There was an issue with the automatic filling of liquid nitrogen, and employees were required to fill the tank manually. This issue had been reported to the manufacturer and the facility had been planning to move the eggs and embryos to a different storage tank. Unfortunately, no specimens had been moved at the time of the malfunction.
The recent freezer malfunction in Ohio, as well as a similar incident in California, has sparked numerous lawsuits and a debate about whether or not embryos should be considered people. If, as a result of recent lawsuits, fertilized eggs are granted personhood status, it could have serious legal implications, especially for abortion rights.
This catastrophic event should serve as a wake up call to fertility clinics around the world. Simply relying on refrigeration equipment is not enough. Fertility clinics and other facilities responsible for the storage of eggs and embryos must ensure that loss does not occur due to malfunction or human error.
Mint Controls’ solution monitors temperatures and refrigeration equipment in real-time. Alerts are sent via SMS text message the moment a problem is detected. These alerts cannot be turned off. Our solution prevents loss and eliminates the chance of human error.
Please contact us for more information.