The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) is once again under fire following a string of new IVF blunders. These have included losing embryos, placing them in the wrong woman, fertilising eggs with the wrong sperm, or, as reported in BioEdge in November, inadequately screening sperm later found to possess severe genetic abnormalities.

As reported in the Independent in April, the number of mistakes reported in the 138 fertility clinics in England and Wales almost doubled in the year up to April 2009, rising to 334 from 182 the preceding year. These figures have led to calls for the HFEA to be harder on clinics that break the rules.

Dr Sammy Lee, a prominent embryologist from the University College London, was quoted in the London Telegraph: “I think the key failure of the HFEA is that when they ask clinics to put in special procedures, they’re not enforcing them. It’s important that when you’ve identified a weakness in a procedure, you quickly enforce it, and don’t wait a year to do so.”

An HFEA spokesman was quoted in the Telegraph as saying: “In embryology, as in all areas of clinical care, it is not possible to guarantee 100 per cent success.” ~ London Telegraph Apr 25, Independent (UK) Apr 25