Embryo problems at more British clinics

An audit has exposed problems at other clinics

Five UK fertility clinics had embryos missing or more embryos in store than they could account for, a court has heard.

In one clinic, three embryos were found by chance lying in the ice at the bottom of a storage tank.

The problems were uncovered in an audit by the Human Fertility and Embryology Authority (HFEA), ordered after embryos went missing from a private clinic in Hampshire.

Paul Fielding, an embryologist at the Basingstoke clinic, is on trial accused of faking embryo implants on patients.

Problems found

Dr Christine O' Toole of the HFEA told Southampton Crown Court the audit had found problems at clinics in other parts of the country.

Out of 114 centres checked over two months, five had embryos missing or more in store than patient records could account for.

She said sanctions had been taken against each of the un-named clinics, including conditions being placed on their licences.

Dr O'Toole said the authority was now making more frequent inspections and random spot checks since the audit in late 2000.

Wrong women

Mr Fielding, 44, of Whitchurch in Hampshire, denies three charges of assault causing actual bodily harm and eight of false accounting to obtain money by deception.

Embryologist Paul Fielding denies fraud and assualt

The prosecution alleges the medic pretended to implant embryos instead of using real ones because he was paid every time a patient had an operation.

The alleged fraud was uncovered after embryos that were supposed to have been transferred to women were found still in storage.

The court has heard that embryos may have been given to the wrong women at Mr Fielding's laboratory.

The trial continues.