A Florida fertility clinic’s catastrophic embryo mix-up left two families shattered after a couple discovered the baby they delivered isn’t biologically theirs, raising urgent questions about oversight in an industry trusted with creating life itself.
Story Snapshot
- Central Florida couple Steven Mills and Tiffany Score gave birth to a baby girl on December 24, 2025, only to learn through genetic testing she has no biological relation to them due to an IVF clinic error
- On April 22, 2026, testing confirmed the identity of the baby’s biological parents, who came forward “devastated” after learning another family is raising their child
- The Fertility Center of Orlando, now closed and facing multiple lawsuits, allegedly mislabeled embryos possibly as far back as 2020, leaving the fate of Mills and Score’s own embryos unknown
- Both families prioritize the child’s stability and privacy while pursuing legal accountability, but the clinic’s closure makes recovering answers “even more unlikely”
Clinic Error Shatters Two Families
Steven Mills and Tiffany Score began IVF treatment at the Fertility Center of Orlando in March 2025, trusting the clinic to help them start a family. After an embryo transfer in April 2025, Score gave birth to a baby girl on December 24, 2025. Physical differences immediately raised concerns, prompting genetic testing that confirmed their worst fears: the child shared no biological connection with either parent. The Longwood-based clinic had implanted the wrong embryo entirely, an error their attorney Jack Scarola called a violation of the couple’s fundamental reproductive rights.
The couple filed a lawsuit seeking answers about what happened to their own embryos and how such a catastrophic mistake occurred. The clinic, which has since closed its doors, faces multiple legal actions including a separate suit over improper surrogate screening that allegedly led to a newborn’s death. For Mills and Score, the closure makes finding their biological child or embryos significantly more difficult, compounding an already unimaginable tragedy.
Biological Parents Come Forward
On April 22, 2026, genetic testing confirmed the identity of the baby’s biological parents after a couple identified as “patient four” came forward. Their attorney confirmed the clients are “devastated” and “still processing” the revelation that another family is raising their biological child. The biological parents’ identities remain confidential under a mutual privacy agreement, with all parties focused on protecting the child’s wellbeing. Mills and Score released a statement declaring, “This ends one chapter… we will love and be this child’s parents forever,” affirming their commitment despite the lack of biological ties.
The embryo mix-up likely stems from mislabeling that may have occurred as far back as 2020, according to court filings. The clinic’s procedural failures underscore systemic vulnerabilities in fertility treatment protocols, where human error can result in life-altering consequences. Mills and Score narrowed down potential biological parents through self-reported ethnicity data from clinic records, noting the baby’s physical characteristics differed from their Caucasian background. The couple who came forward cooperated with testing, leading to the confirmed match.
Accountability and Unanswered Questions
The Fertility Center of Orlando’s closure leaves patients scrambling to transfer embryos and materials to other facilities, with a new clinic planned for the same Longwood location. Mills and Score’s lawsuit continues as they seek accountability for the error and answers about their own embryos’ whereabouts. The clinic’s shutdown complicates these efforts, making resolution “even more unlikely” according to their legal team. The case highlights broader concerns about regulatory oversight in the fertility industry, where private clinics operate with limited government scrutiny despite wielding enormous power over patients’ reproductive futures.
Florida Couple Identifies Biological Parents of Their ‘Non-Caucasian’ Baby After Horrific IVF Embryo Mix-Up at Closing Clinic
READ: https://t.co/pltjIVHqy0 pic.twitter.com/Yv5aU2Krwo
— The Gateway Pundit (@gatewaypundit) April 23, 2026
Both families now face an uncertain path forward. Mills and Score are raising a child with no genetic connection, while the biological parents grapple with losing the opportunity to parent their own offspring. No custody disputes have emerged, with all parties prioritizing the child’s stability. The tragedy underscores a fundamental question: when government fails to adequately regulate industries entrusted with the most intimate aspects of citizens’ lives, who bears responsibility when things go catastrophically wrong? For families like these, the answer matters far less than the irreversible harm already done.
Sources:
Biological parents of Florida baby at center of IVF mix-up identified, attorney says
Couple says baby’s genetic parents identified in Florida IVF mix-up case
