The Fertility Society of Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) acknowledges the release today of Monash IVF’s statement to the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) regarding the independent investigation into the two incorrect embryo transfer events. Monash IVF has confirmed that, following a thorough review, the incidents were the result of human error.
“Our thoughts remain first and foremost with the families directly affected by these events, and with the staff who have also been deeply impacted. FSANZ recognises that this disclosure, while containing no patient-identifying details, may cause significant distress to patients and the wider community,” said FSANZ President, Dr Petra Wale.
As a publicly listed company, Monash IVF is legally obliged to release market-sensitive information to the ASX. However, this can mean that critical information of great public interest is made available to financial markets before it has been properly reviewed by the Reproductive Technology Accreditation Committee (RTAC), or health regulators.
This gap highlights a serious weakness in Australia’s regulatory framework for assisted reproduction. Currently, oversight varies state by state and does not provide a uniform national safeguard. To strengthen transparency and protect patients, FSANZ believes a national approach is required. This would ensure that findings from serious incidents are notified to the peak body and regulators prior to market announcements, so that responses can be coordinated in the public interest.
RTAC will review the findings of the report, to see if any additional learnings or regulatory requirements could further reduce the chances of human errors in the future.
FSANZ remains committed to:
“Our priority is to maintain transparency, uphold professional standards, and ensure that the interests of patients are at the centre of our work,” Dr Wale said.
Restoring public trust through national reform
These events, though rare, are deeply serious and demand a system-wide response. IVF and ART in Australia are among the safest and most successful in the world, yet the current patchwork of state-based regulation is no longer adequate. Only a nationally consistent framework can provide the transparency and accountability the community rightly expects.
Through our 10-Year Fertility Roadmap, FSANZ has called for reforms to strengthen oversight and restore confidence, including:
“We remain committed to working with governments, regulators, and the IVF community to ensure patient welfare and public confidence are always placed at the centre of fertility care,” said Dr Wale.
“Incidents like these, while rare, show why stronger, nationally consistent regulation is needed. Patients deserve transparency, accountability, and the assurance that lessons are learned at a system level. Fragmented state-by-state oversight will not deliver this.”
The way forward
RTAC will carefully review the findings of the Monash IVF report to determine what additional learnings or safeguards may be needed across the sector. We will continue to advocate for reforms that place patients first, improve transparency, and reinforce Australia’s position as a world leader in fertility care.
“Our priority is clear: to support the families affected, safeguard all patients, and rebuild trust in this vital area of healthcare,” Dr Wale said.
ENDS
For media enquiries, please contact:
Annette Stenhouse: annette.stenhouse@londonagency.com.au, 0416 861 732
Rebecca Dawson: rebecca.dawson@londonagency.com.au, 0435 948 116