Fertility and Sterility, an international journal for obstetricians, gynecologists, reproductive endocrinologists, urologists, basic scientists and others who treat and investigate problems of infertility and human reproductive disorders, interviews Mark P. Trolice, M.D., for his insights on IVF errors.
Given the recent flurry of sensational “mix-ups” involving IVF (in vitro fertilization) and IUI (intrauterine insemination), public trust in the field of assisted reproductive technology (ART) has undoubtedly been shaken.
Over the years, this has led fertility clinics to adopt stringent control measures to minimize errors and ensure that ART practitioners meet the standard of care, with the goal of ensuring optimal care for infertility patients.
Today, regulations, inspections, and guidelines all help to ensure that ART practitioners uphold standards of care.
Though incidence rates are extremely low, news of these errors may prompt already stressed infertility patients to discontinue treatments that are highly likely to succeed. We as an industry must improve our self-regulation and monitor compliance with legal, ethical, and safety standards.
