Few Ex-Fertility Patients Respond to UCI’s Notices

Of two dozen former fertility clinic patients whom UC Irvine has tried to contact in the last month, only three have attended meetings with university officials to discuss the possibility that they may have been victimized by improper egg or embryo transfers.

UC Irvine has confirmed that 13 of 24 letters sent out since July 1 were received by the former patients, but only four have called for an appointment and one of them canceled without rescheduling.

Dr. Thomas Cesario, dean of UCI’s College of Medicine, said he could not explain the low response rate to the university’s offer of information and assistance.

“The anticipation was we would be inundated with calls,” Cesario said. But “I think I have worked with this long enough to learn we can’t predict” what will happen.

He noted, however, that a significant portion of the patients live overseas and that might account for delay in communication with the university.

Cesario said patients may be experiencing a “complete range of emotions” in response to the fertility clinic scandal. It is possible that some patients may not want to know about the university’s allegations or may not want to become involved, he said.

In all, the university is estimating that at least 30 patients were involved in improper egg or embryo transfers at the now closed Center for Reproductive Health. A handful of patients were identified before last month’s letters went out and had already been contacted. They have been involved in discussions with the university, said UC Irvine spokeswoman Fran Tardiff.

UC Irvine has accused three clinic physicians of misappropriating human eggs and embryos, as well as financial and research misconduct. The doctors have denied any wrongdoing.

As a result of the allegations, the University of California has appointed a task force to conduct a review of assisted reproductive technology throughout the UC system.