Statement on The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust v A and Others
04 November 2002
HFEA issued the following statement after the President of the Family Division named the Assisted Conception Unit at Leeds General Infirmary (part of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust) as the unit where use of the 'wrong' sperm during ICSI/IVF resulted in the birth of twins.
When the HFEA was made aware by the Trust that a mistake had occurred, it performed its own investigation into the activities within the Assisted Conception Unit. As a result a number of conditions were imposed on the clinic's licence including:
- Restrictions on the number of egg collections and frozen embryo transfers performed;
- A requirement to adhere to witnessing protocols. When this case came to light, the hospital introduced a protocol whereby every step in the procedure at which a mistake can be made is witnessed by a second person who signs their name in the clinical notes. The HFEA has made this mandatory for all centres; and
- A requirement for urgent revisions to the clinics quality assurance and other laboratory procedures and protocols.
These steps were taken to minimise, as far as possible, the chance of such an error occurring in the future.
The HFEA can confirm that the clinic is complying with these additional licence conditions. A licence committee of the HFEA will continue to monitor the clinic's activities and the conditions on its licence.
HFEA chair, Suzi Leather said:
'Clearly any mistakes in IVF are unacceptable and we must do everything possible to reduce the risk. We have required clinics to introduce new stringent double-checking procedures for every step involving sperm, eggs and embryos. It may not be able to eliminate the risk of mistakes entirely, but if clinics follow these procedures we can ensure that the risk is absolutely minimal.'
Ends
Notes to editors
For furthur information please contact the HFEA press office.
Page last updated: 12 March 2009