Florida Couple Reaches Agreement to Keep Baby From Embryo Mix-Up

Why it matters locally: While the immediate impact of this specific case is limited to Florida, the legal precedent and discussion around fertility clinic regulation could influence oversight of similar facilities throughout New Jersey.

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Tiffany Score and Steven Mills have secured a custody arrangement that permits them to raise a child who does not share their genetic material, following an embryo mix-up at a fertility clinic. Court documents show that Score and Mills reached the agreement with the biological parents of the child. The records do not specify terms of the arrangement or financial details. Embryо mix-ups at fertility clinics have prompted legal disputes in past cases, often leaving families to navigate questions about parental rights, custody, and the status of children born from transferred embryos. The Score-Mills situation resolved through a negotiated settlement rather than litigation. The clinic involved in the mix-up has not been identified in available court filings. Details about how the error occurred and when it was discovered remain unclear from the records disclosed. Fertility clinics operate under state and federal regulations that govern embryo handling and transfer procedures. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine has issued guidelines for member clinics addressing patient identification and embryo tracking protocols. Score and Mills' decision to raise the child despite the absence of a genetic connection signals a shift from some previous embryo mix-up cases, which have resulted in lengthy court battles and custody challenges. Legal experts have noted that such disputes often hinge on questions of biological parenthood, parental intent, and the best interests of the child. The arrangement between the two sets of parents suggests both parties agreed on a resolution without requiring judicial intervention to determine custody or parental rights. Court records indicate the agreement is binding. Embryo storage and transfer errors have drawn scrutiny from patients and regulators. In 2021, a fertility clinic in Ohio settled a lawsuit with a couple who received embryos belonging to different biological parents. Other cases have involved clinics failing to properly identify embryos before transfer or mixing up patient samples during laboratory procedures. The circumstances of Score and Mills' case, including the specific protocols that failed at the clinic and whether the facility faced regulatory action, have not been disclosed.