San Raffaele Hospital embryo swap triggers investigation in Milan

San Raffaele Hospital embryo swap assisted reproduction medical error Milan

A serious medical error occurred at the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan on July 23, when an embryo belonging to one couple was mistakenly transferred to the uterus of a patient from another couple. The incident was attributed to human error, specifically a biologist misreading the operating schedule during the procedure.

The error was detected by a witness biologist only eight minutes after the transfer was completed. The affected patient and her partner consented to an endometrial aspiration to minimize the risk of an unplanned pregnancy. The second couple, whose embryo was misplaced, was informed several days later to avoid causing undue stress before their own scheduled procedure.

Following the incident, health authorities suspended the embryology laboratory's operations for at least 15 days. San Raffaele has initiated internal investigations alongside the ATS and the National Transplant Center. The hospital is implementing new corrective measures, including electronic tracking and identification systems, to prevent recurrence.

This event has sparked a broader debate in Italy regarding the safety of medically assisted procreation (PMA) and the necessity of mandatory electronic monitoring systems. The National Federation of Orders of Biologists (FNOB) has also called for clearer regulatory frameworks to define the specific responsibilities of gynecologists and biologists in these centers.

Entities

ATS Milano · Enrico Papaleo · FNOB · Italian Society of Reproduction · Milan · Ministry of Health · National Federation of the Orders of Biologists · San Raffaele Hospital

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 4 SOURCES] The probability of such an error is estimated at one case per 10,000 to 12,000 assisted reproduction cycles. www.tanea.gr · flashnews.gr · www.laverita.info · www.ilfattoquotidiano.it
[● 5 SOURCES] The embryo swap at the San Raffaele center was caused by human error. www.tanea.gr · milano.notizie.it · www.adginforma.it · www.laverita.info · www.ilfattoquotidiano.it
[● 5 SOURCES] A biologist misread the operating program line, leading to the retrieval of the wrong patient's embryo. www.tanea.gr · milano.notizie.it · www.adginforma.it · www.laverita.info · www.letribunaldunet.fr
[● 2 SOURCES] The couple who received the incorrect embryo consented to an endometrial aspiration to prevent implantation. flashnews.gr · www.laverita.info
[● 2 SOURCES] The center is implementing new identification and electronic tracking systems to prevent future errors. milano.notizie.it · www.adginforma.it
[● 5 SOURCES] The embryology laboratory has been suspended for at least 15 days by health authorities. www.tanea.gr · milano.notizie.it · www.adginforma.it · flashnews.gr · www.ilfattoquotidiano.it
[● 4 SOURCES] The hospital expressed deep regret regarding the incident. www.tanea.gr · www.adginforma.it · flashnews.gr · www.laverita.info
[○ 1 SOURCE] The National Federation of Orders of Biologists called for clearer regulations and defined responsibilities in PMA centers. www.insalutenews.it