Krystena Murray’s dream of motherhood turned into heartbreak after a fertility clinic allegedly implanted the wrong embryo, leading her to carry and give birth to another couple’s child. Despite forming a deep bond with the baby, she was ultimately forced to give him up after a court awarded custody to his biological parents. Now, she is suing the clinic for medical negligence.
Murray, a 38-year-old former patient of Coastal Fertility Specialists, underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF) with the expectation of carrying her own child. She carefully selected a sperm donor who resembled her, hoping to create a biological connection. However, when she gave birth in December 2023, she immediately suspected something was wrong. A DNA test the following month confirmed that the baby was not genetically related to her.
The biological parents filed for custody, and in May 2024, a court ruled in their favor, forcing Murray to relinquish the child she had loved and cared for. She has not seen him since.
Her lawsuit, filed in Georgia state court, accuses Coastal Fertility Specialists of a grave error that resulted in an unimaginable loss. The legal action, led by attorney Adam Wolf, seeks accountability for the clinic’s failure to ensure embryos were properly matched to their intended parents.
Murray’s ordeal began with months of intensive IVF treatments, including hormone injections, frequent medical visits, and an egg retrieval procedure. In May 2023, an embryo was transferred to her womb—but it was later revealed that the embryo belonged to another couple. Overjoyed at the prospect of becoming a mother, she spent months preparing for her child’s arrival, unaware of the devastating mistake.
Now, she is speaking out about the emotional toll of losing the baby she carried and nurtured. “I trusted them with my dream of becoming a mother,” Murray said. “Instead, they turned it into a nightmare that I relive every single day.”
Her attorney called the situation “one of the most egregious cases of fertility clinic negligence” and emphasized the urgent need for stricter oversight in the fertility industry. The lawsuit seeks damages and systemic reforms to prevent similar tragedies from happening to other hopeful parents.
As the legal battle unfolds, Murray remains determined to raise awareness about the risks associated with fertility treatments, hoping her experience will lead to better safeguards and protections for future families.
