Florida couple whose daughter was seen in in vitro fertilization After a custody agreement is reached with the child’s biological parents, embryo mixing will preserve the baby despite not being genetically related to her.
According to court records cited by NBC News, Tiffany Schock and Steven Mills, as well as the baby’s biological parents, have agreed that the couple will remain the girl’s permanent custodial parents.
Only his biological parents are identified in court documents as Patient 004, and their names have not been made public.
How is IVF mix-up discovered?
Score and Mills sue Orlando Fertility Center and its primary fertility center endocrinologist January after learning that the baby Score gave birth to in December was not genetically related to either parent.
According to their lawsuit, the couple seeks genetic testing Their daughter “exhibited the appearance of a non-white child.” Their lawyers later said the results showed the baby, named Shay, was 100 percent South Asian.
The legal action prompted efforts to identify the embryo’s biological parents. In April, the couple’s lawyers confirmed they had been located, but their identities remained confidential.
What does a custody agreement mean?
Attorney Marla Hatfield said in a court filing that the two families have “reached a joint custody agreement” recognizing Scoler and Mills as Shay’s “permanent custodial parents.”
The filing did not reveal further details of the arrangement.
Rob Marcello, an attorney representing Shea’s biological parents, said they intend to remain involved in the child’s life while recognizing the unusual circumstances of the case.
“They intend to continue to be a part of this child’s life while recognizing that both families have been put in an impossible situation through no fault of their own,” he said.
During a court hearing, Circuit Court Judge Margaret Schreiber welcomed the agreement and said she was pleased the children’s families had reached a resolution while the children were still very young.
Also read: Human egg scam: IVF center director arrested, sixth arrest in case
Couple says they bonded before birth
Since the mix-up came to light, Scow and Mills have repeatedly said they want to continue raising Shay.
They said in the lawsuit that they developed a “strong emotional bond” with their child starting during pregnancy. After Shay’s biological parents were identified, the couple also said they would “always love the parents of this child.”
In a statement released through their attorneys after the custody agreement was reached, the couple said they were committed to respecting the privacy of Shay’s biological parents while continuing to build a “relationship of friendship and trust” with them.
