Dozens of women hoping to have children are dealing with heartbreaking loss after their frozen embryos were mistakenly destroyed at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle.
Tina Mankowski, director of strategic communications for UW Medicine, confirmed that 31 patients were affected and that the destruction happened in 2014.
The mistake was not known publicly, however, until one of the couples recently filed a complaint for damages.
According to their attorney, "When these embryos are developed, they’re like extensions of themselves.”
She said her clients felt their frozen embryos were “living beings.”
“To have them destroyed without their consent, without their knowledge -- it was devastating for this couple," the attorney said.
The lawsuit lawsuit filed by the plaintiff’s lawyer alleges that the existence of a UW Medicine letter is proof of medical negligence.
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