Florida Couple Retains Custody of Baby After IVF Embryo Mix-Up
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Why this grade: Graded A-: core claims verified by court filings and multiple outlets; minor missing context on clinic's prior issues and ongoing lawsuit details.
Why this lean: Factual reporting with no discernible political slant; focused on legal and family outcomes.
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Summary
The segment covers an alleged embryo mix-up at the Fertility Center of Orlando involving Tiffany Score and Steven Mills. They gave birth to daughter Shea in December 2025 via IVF but discovered through genetic testing she was not biologically theirs and was 100% South Asian. A lawsuit was filed, biological parents were identified and remain anonymous, and a custody agreement was reached allowing the birth parents to retain permanent custody while the genetic parents stay involved.
Editorial Assessment
The broadcast accurately reports verified details from court documents, including the DNA results, custody resolution under Florida law favoring birth parents, and statements from both families. It provides clear sourcing to the lawsuit and attorney comments but omits deeper context on the clinic's closure, multiple other lawsuits, or potential broader lab errors. Viewer perception is not skewed by loaded language; the report remains neutral and fact-based, though it does not explore long-term implications or the status of the couple's remaining embryo.
Key Moments
Tiffany Score and Steven Mills gave birth to baby Shea who was not biologically theirs after wrong embryo transfer at Fertility Center of Orlando.
Confirmed by lawsuit filed January 2026 and multiple court documents reported by NBC, ABC, and local outlets.
Genetic testing showed baby Shea was 100% South Asian.
Attorney Mara Hatfield confirmed DNA results; clinic identified matching South Asian couple among potential matches.
Custody agreement reached allowing birth parents to keep Shea with genetic parents remaining involved.
June 2026 court filing in Orange County; mutual agreement reported across NBC, WESH, and People.
Fertility Center of Orlando has since closed.
Clinic announced closure in spring 2026 amid legal and financial issues.
Sources Consulted
- Florida couple in IVF clinic's embryo mix-up will keep baby who isn't genetically theirs
- Couple reaches custody agreement with daughter's biological parents after alleged IVF mix-up
- Couple in IVF Embryo Mixup Reach Custody Agreement with Infant Daughter's Biological Parents: Filing
- Florida couple reaches custody agreement after IVF mix-up
- Biological parents of baby in Florida IVF embryo mix-up identified