RismadarVoice Reporters, June 16, 2026
A Florida couple involved in a rare IVF embryo mix-up has reached a custody agreement that allows them to keep the infant they raised, even though the child is not genetically related to them.
Tiffany Score and Steven Mills had earlier filed a lawsuit against the Fertility Centre of Orlando and its lead reproductive endocrinologist after discovering that the baby delivered to them through in vitro fertilisation was not biologically theirs.
The couple, who are white, said they requested genetic testing after noticing that the child’s appearance suggested she may not share their ancestry. The test reportedly confirmed that the baby girl, Shea, is of South Asian descent.
The lawsuit led to efforts to locate the biological parents of the embryo mistakenly implanted in Score, who were later identified in court documents as “Patient 004.” Their identities have been kept confidential.
According to court filings, both parties have now reached a mutually agreed custody arrangement that recognises Score and Mills as the child’s permanent custodial parents. No further details of the agreement were disclosed.
The decision was noted during a court hearing, where the presiding judge expressed relief that the matter had been resolved while the child is still young.
The case, which has drawn significant attention, is one of only a few known IVF embryo mix-ups reported in the United States and has raised wider questions about oversight within the fertility industry.
Score and Mills previously stated that they had formed a strong emotional bond with the child during pregnancy and expressed their intention to raise her as their own, even after learning she was not genetically related to them.
The fertility clinic involved has faced legal and financial challenges in recent months and has since announced plans to shut down operations. Another fertility provider has reportedly taken over the facility.
The case remains ongoing as genetic testing continues on a separate frozen embryo linked to the couple, which has since been transferred to another facility.
In a statement issued through their attorney, Score and Mills said they respect the privacy of the biological parents and expressed willingness to maintain a respectful relationship going forward.
