IVF mix-up – Rob Marcereau, attorney for two unnamed biological parents in an IVF embryo mix-up in Florida, urges prospective families to scrutinize fertility clinics. Marcereau cites limited industry regulation, understaffing, and inadequate training as broader risks—and
On June 20, 2026, the warning came with urgency and no sugarcoating: Rob Marcereau, attorney for two unnamed biological parents, says families considering IVF need to do more than hope for the best—they need to vet the clinic like lives and futures depend on it, because sometimes they do.
Marcereau is representing the biological parents of a child born to another family via IVF, after an embryo was allegedly implanted in the wrong Florida couple. The child—Shea—has been carried by Tiffany Score and Steven Mills, the couple who have been raising her since her birth.
Marcereau’s message is aimed at prospective moms and dads. He says prospective patients should choose a fertility clinic that has been around for a long time. has ample resources. and shows a good track record. He ties that advice to what he describes as a broader industry problem—one that. in his view. helps create the conditions for mistakes.
Marcereau tells us there isn’t a lot of regulation in the industry. He argues that because of that. situations like this can occur—mistakes that “shouldn’t” happen—driven by understaffing and a lack of training. He also says fertility has become a very big business. and that some clinics are run “like fast food restaurants” rather than healthcare facilities. which he calls “a huge problem.”.
He stresses that he isn’t claiming this particular case is the direct result of that exact issue. Still, he frames his comments as a reality couples need to understand before proceeding.
Marcereau is also careful to draw a line. He says he isn’t telling people to shun IVF if they want a child. He just wants families to be careful about which company they choose.
When it comes to the clinic connected to the alleged mix-up, Marcereau doesn’t hold back. He claims Dr. Milton McNichol is running a bankrupt practice, calling that “not a sign of a well-run facility.”
For Shea’s biological parents and for Score and Mills, the fallout has already moved beyond paperwork and into custody. Marcereau says the biological parents of Shea have come to a custody agreement with Tiffany Score and Steven Mills. and that Score and Mills will continue as the primary guardians of Shea.
Through it all, Marcereau says his clients are trying to make the best of an unimaginable situation. At the end of the day, he says, they want what’s best for the child.
IVF mix-up Florida IVF embryo implanted wrong couple Rob Marcereau Shea Tiffany Score Steven Mills Dr. Milton McNichol fertility clinic regulation IVF custody agreement
So basically they implanted the wrong embryo and now it’s custody??
I saw “gaps” in the title and thought it was like, medical insurance gaps or something. Either way, this is crazy. How is this even allowed to happen in 2026.
Wait… Shea is the kid but the article says a custody agreement already happened, so like who is the biological parents part? I’m confused. Also doesn’t it say the clinic was bankrupt—could that be why? Or is it just “training” like every other lawsuit.
“Fast food restaurants” is the wildest comparison. But honestly, most of these IVF places are out here selling hope like it’s no big deal. If they don’t have enough staff or regulation then yeah, mistakes happen. I kinda feel bad for everybody involved but at the same time you can’t just “vet the clinic” like it’s a contractor… this is someone’s baby.