IVF legal claims possible "whether treatment was successful or not"

Commenting on recent allegations against IVF doctor Mohamed Taranissi, leading IVF expert Muiris Lyons of Irwin Mitchell Solicitors, who acts on behalf of Natallie Evans in her frozen embryo litigation which is currently pending judgment from the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, said:

"The reported allegations are likely to be of great concern to patients who have undergone treatment at either of Dr Mohamed Taranissis clinics. If it is established that Dr Taranissi practiced without a licence for almost a year at his clinic the Reproductive Genetics Institute in Weymouth Street, London, then anyone who had been treated at this clinic during this time may be able to make a legal claim, whether their treatment was successful or not.

More seriously, if it is proved that Dr Taranissi has advised anyone to undergo unnecessary treatment at either of his clinics then there is huge potential for a substantial claim against the doctor and the clinics that he ran.

Anyone unsure as to whether they have been properly advised to undergo treatment at one of the clinics, or who believes that they may have paid for unnecessary treatment should consider their position carefully and contact lawyers who specialise in this area.

A Panorama documentary containing undercover footage from two clinics of Dr Taranissis aired on Monday night (15th January 2007).

IVF Undercover investigated recent allegations made against Dr Mohamed Taranissi in relation to IVF treatment given at two clinics in the UK.

IVF claims could be made for clinical mistakes

The allegations about Dr Mohamed Taranissis clinics come a week after figures were released by the HFEA, under the Freedom of Information Act, which showed a catalogue of blunders at some of the country's top IVF clinics, including staff dropping embryos, eggs and sperm on the floor or samples being mistakenly thrown out with the rubbish. Failed storage equipment also meant that frozen embryos and sperm samples thawed which could in some cases lead to a family's last chance of having a natural child of their own being lost.

The figures show that between April 2005 and March 2006 140 incidents and near misses were reported to the HFEA. Of these 91 were categorised as Grade A being the most severe with 38 Grade B incidents and 11 near miss incidents. The report Driving Improvement which is available from the HFEA website confirmed that the most serious incidents include the loss of gametes (eggs or sperm) and embryos through dropping dishes or tripping or accidental disposal and that equipment failure compromised viable embryos.

Irwin Mitchell has set up a helpline, on 0870 1500 300, for people who believe they may require legal advice following IVF treatment.