Two California couples gave birth to each other’s babies and spent months raising children that weren’t theirs after a mix-up at the fertility clinic, according to a lawsuit filed on Monday.
Daphna Cardinale said she and her husband, Alexander, were immediately suspicious after the girl she gave birth to in late 2019 had a darker complexion than they do.
However, the couple said they suppressed their doubts because they fell in love with the baby and trusted the IVF process and their doctors.
Months later they learned Daphna had been pregnant with another couple’s baby, and the other woman had carried – and given birth to – her biological daughter.
“I was overwhelmed by feelings of fear, betrayal, anger, and heartbreak,” Daphna said during a news conference with her husband announcing the lawsuit against the fertility clinic.
“I was robbed of the ability to carry my own child. I never had the opportunity to grow and bond with her during pregnancy, to feel her kick.”
The Cardinales’ lawsuit accuses the Los Angeles-based California Center for Reproductive Health (CCRH) and its owner, Dr. Eliran Mor, of medical malpractice, breach of contract, negligence, and fraud. It demands a jury trial and seeks unspecified damages. Sky News
