There has been an alarming number of ‘baby mix-up’ cases published in recent times, and the following contains some of the most shocking details of any story we have ever heard.
A New Zealand couple have appealed to the prime minister for help, four years after discovering that their child was the subject of an embryo mix-up in a Thai fertility clinic.
The couple were overjoyed when their surrogate gave birth back in 2011, but after carrying out DNA tests to satisfy immigration laws, they discovered that the child had no biological connection to them or their donor.
At the time, the Thai hospital in question feared negative publicity and backlash over the mix-up, and so they prevented the parents from accessing the child’s birth records. It is only now, after a long process, that the child has been granted New Zealand citizenship and the parents have been able to go public with their story.
The child’s father, referred to only as Mr N, believes that his biological child is out there somewhere and he has called on Prime Minister John Key to help out his family.
Mr N has also appealed to any couples who went through the same process in New Zealand or Thailand to double-check that no mistakes were made with their own case and child.
In a statement, Mr N said: “I'm not looking for fame or infamy from this. I just want to find out if our kids are out there, and the only way we can do that is if other clients are made aware that something went wrong and they start checking."
"We still need the answers one day, and I'd rather have them early than when the young fella gets to 18 and starts asking questions. He kind of knows now. He's only four, but we tell him that he's got a second mum,” he added.
