CooperSurgical, a major provider of medical supplies, is currently facing a series of lawsuits from patients alleging that one of its products led to the destruction of embryos created through in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Federal regulators disclosed that the disputed product:

• is a liquid crucial for nurturing fertilized eggs into embryos;
• is utilized by fertility clinics worldwide;
• had recalled three batches of this liquid utilized by clinics; and,
• destroyed the embryos and hopes of parenthood for thousands of patients.

Since then, families across the United States have filed eight lawsuits against CooperSurgical. Together, these families claim to have lost over 100 embryos due to exposure to the flawed product, referred to as culture media.

In the lawsuits, the plaintiffs argue that:

• three batches of liquid lacked a vital nutrient, magnesium;
• prevented their embryos from developing properly; and,
• rendered those embryos unusable.

CooperSurgical declined to provide comments regarding the ongoing lawsuits.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a recall notice, indicating that nearly 1,000 bottles of the culture media were affected, with approximately half purchased by U.S. clinics.

The notice stated that the company informed affected clinics of "performance issues" potentially leading to impaired embryo development, instructing them to discontinue the product's use.

Each bottle contained enough liquid for multiple patients, although the number of opened bottles before the recall remains to be determined.

An embryologist and laboratory director at California Fertility Partners mentioned that if clinics used even half of the affected bottles, up to 20,000 patients could have been impacted.

With its rising demand for IVF, the fertility medicine field has seen CooperSurgical positioning itself as a prominent player. The company has acquired five smaller fertility firms over the past decade, contributing to its $1.2 billion revenue in the previous year, with a significant portion from fertility services and supplies.

In a recent investor call, the company's CEO highlighted 12 consecutive quarters of "double-digit growth" in its fertility sector.

The lawsuits depict a consistent narrative:

• Couples endure years of fertility struggles;
• Then, they discover healthy embryos; but,
• They came to learn that these embryos had ceased to develop.

The initial lawsuit involved a Los Angeles couple who claimed that 34 embryos were lost due to faulty media. This represents a recent pattern of manufacturing issues resulting from rapid industry growth and consolidation.

We encourage eligible victims who suffered damages when CooperSurgical's botched in vitro fertilization (IVF) liquid destroyed their embryos to request a free, private case review for justice and potential compensation.