Couple Secures Custody of Baby Amid Fertility Mix-Up
A Florida couple embroiled in a fetal mix-up has reached a custody agreement with the biological parents of their baby, securing their right to raise her. This significant development follows a legal dispute sparked by the revelation that the child, named Shea, was not genetically related to Tiffany Score and Stephen Mills.
In January, Score and Mills filed a lawsuit against a fertility center in Orlando, as well as its lead reproductive endocrinologist, after learning that the daughter Score had given birth to was not linked genetically to the couple. Concern arose when the baby’s appearance suggested she was of a different racial background, leading the couple to request genetic testing.
Results from these tests confirmed their suspicions, revealing that Shea is 100% South Asian. This revelation compelled the couple to seek the identity of the parents whose embryos had mistakenly been implanted into Score. In April, the biological parents, referred to in legal documents as Patient 004, were located, although their identities remain confidential.
Recent court filings confirmed that Score and Mills and Patient 004 have finalized a mutually developed custody agreement. Mara Hatfield, the couple’s attorney, noted that this agreement acknowledges Score and Mills as the “permanent custodial parents” of their daughter. No further details of the agreement were disclosed.
During a recent court hearing, Circuit Court Judge Margaret Shriver expressed her support for the agreement, noting the importance of this resolution occurring while Shea is still young. This case has drawn attention due to its rarity, concerning embryo mix-ups that have historically affected only a handful of other families.
Since the beginning of their legal journey, Score and Mills have emphasized their desire to keep Shea, stating they have developed a strong emotional connection with her throughout the pregnancy. Following the identification of Shea’s biological parents, they pledged, “We will forever love this child and continue to be his parents.”
According to Judge Shriver’s recounting of court documents, the defendants do not contest that Shea “should be, but is not, the plaintiffs’ genetic child.” Meanwhile, representatives for Shea’s biological parents, the fertility clinic, and Dr. Milton McNicol have yet to respond to inquiries regarding the case.
This situation has raised critical questions about the oversight of the IVF industry in the United States, which experts suggest does not have the same level of regulation seen in other developed nations. Compounding the issue, the Orlando fertility clinic at the center of the lawsuit announced it will close this spring, although another IVF facility has opened at the same location. As the couple’s lawsuit continues, the clinic is conducting genetic tests on their frozen embryos, which have since been transferred to another facility.
In a statement released on Monday, Score and Mills reaffirmed their commitment to respect the privacy of Shea’s biological parents, expressing their intention to foster a relationship grounded in friendship and trust.
