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San Raffaele Hospital confirms embryo implant error in Milan
San Raffaele Hospital in Milan has confirmed that a human error occurred during an IVF procedure on 23 July 2026, resulting in the incorrect embryo being implanted in a woman. The error, reportedly caused by a mix-up of names between two consecutive appointments, was detected eight minutes after the transfer was completed.
The hospital expressed "deep regret" for the incident and has activated protocols to investigate the circumstances. Following the error, the mistakenly implanted embryo was removed via vacuum aspiration, and the couple's own embryo was preserved. The second couple involved in the mix-up was informed and received their correct embryo later that same day.
As a result of inspections conducted by the Ats Città Metropolitana di Milano and the Italian Ministry of Health, the hospital's embryology laboratory has been subject to a temporary suspension of activities. This suspension, effective from 6 August, is set for a minimum of 15 days and may be extended until corrective and preventive measures are fully implemented.
Ermanno Greco, president of the Italian Society of Reproduction (S.I.d.R.), has called for the mandatory implementation of advanced electronic tracking systems, such as Witness, in all Italian fertility centers to prevent such rare but serious incidents.
Entities
Agenzia di Tutela della Salute (ATS) · Assisted Reproduction Unit · Ats Città Metropolitana di Milano · Ermanno Greco · Guido Bertolaso · Italian Ministry of Health · Italian health authorities · La Repubblica · Milan · Ministry of Health · Regione Lombardia · San Raffaele Hospital
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 12 SOURCES] The mistakenly implanted embryo was removed and the couple's own embryo was preserved. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.zeit.de · www.onetz.de · www.stimberg-zeitung.de · www.travelblog.it · +7 more
- [● 20 SOURCES] On 23 July 2026, a woman at San Raffaele Hospital in Milan received an embryo belonging to another couple during an IVF procedure. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.zeit.de · www.onetz.de · www.stimberg-zeitung.de · www.travelblog.it · +15 more
- [● 10 SOURCES] More than 80,000 IVF cycles are attempted each year in Italy. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.zeit.de · www.onetz.de · www.stimberg-zeitung.de · www.faz.net · +5 more
- [● 12 SOURCES] The error was detected eight minutes after the embryo transfer. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.zeit.de · www.onetz.de · www.stimberg-zeitung.de · www.travelblog.it · +7 more
- [● 19 SOURCES] Italian health authorities ordered a temporary suspension of all IVF procedures at the clinic pending a review. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.zeit.de · www.onetz.de · www.stimberg-zeitung.de · www.travelblog.it · +14 more
- [● 10 SOURCES] The second couple received their own embryo later the same day. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.zeit.de · www.onetz.de · www.stimberg-zeitung.de · www.faz.net · +5 more