A Georgia woman, Krystena Murray, 38, from Savannah, is seeking justice after a shocking IVF mix-up led her to give birth to a baby boy who was not biologically hers. Murray, who is white, was left in disbelief when she delivered a Black child in December 2023, despite her and her sperm donor both being white. The fertility clinic had mistakenly implanted another couple’s embryo into her uterus.
“I have never felt so violated, and the situation has left me emotionally and physically broken,” Murray said. She added, “I spent my entire life wanting to be a mom. I loved, nurtured, and grew my child, and I would have done literally anything to keep him.”
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Murray, who underwent IVF in early 2023, was unaware of the error until the moment of delivery. Despite the shocking revelation, she resolved to raise the child. However, after reporting the mistake to Coastal Fertility Specialists, the clinic identified the baby’s biological parents, who demanded custody.
Murray relinquished the 5-month-old boy in May 2024 to avoid a legal battle she could not win. “Never once did I consider I might birth someone else’s child and have them taken from me,” Murray said. “And I feel like that should be something that women are aware of as an actual possibility.”
On Tuesday, Murray filed a civil lawsuit against Coastal Fertility Specialists, alleging negligence and emotional distress. Her lawsuit claims the clinic’s “extreme and outrageous” mistake turned her into “an unwitting surrogate, against her will, for another couple.” She is seeking unspecified monetary damages.
Coastal Fertility Specialists, which operates clinics in Savannah and South Carolina, apologized for what it called “an unprecedented error.” In a statement, the clinic said, “This was an isolated event with no further patients affected. We are doing everything we can to make things right for those affected by this incident.”
The clinic also stated it has implemented new safeguards to prevent similar mistakes. Murray’s attorney, Adam Wolf, said his firm has represented over 1,000 patients in cases against fertility clinics, often involving lost or damaged embryos. However, transferring the wrong embryo is rare. “Fertility clinics engage in vitally important work,” Wolf said. “With that amazing work comes a real responsibility.
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And when fertility clinics make mistakes like this, the consequences are life-altering.” Murray recalled the joy of her pregnancy turning to confusion and fear after the birth. She avoided sharing photos of the baby or introducing him to friends and family, fearing the biological parents might claim him.
A DNA test confirmed the child was not genetically hers, leading to the heartbreaking custody transfer. The case highlights the need for stricter oversight in fertility clinics to prevent such devastating errors. Murray’s lawsuit aims to hold the clinic accountable and ensure no other families endure similar trauma.
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