Orange Couple Files Suit Against University and Fertility Doctors
SANTA ANA — An Orange County couple sued the University of California and three UC Irvine physicians Wednesday, alleging the woman’s eggs and embryos were stolen and implanted in another patient who had twins.
Donna and Joseph Rafael contend the transfer occurred in October 1987 at a clinic at AMI/Garden Grove Medical Center, a former affiliate of UC Irvine. Other improper transfers may have occurred between August 1987 and July 1993, the suit alleges.
The lawsuit is one of about 50 to be filed against the university and its doctors in an internationally publicized fertility scandal. Three doctors, Ricardo H. Asch, Jose P. Balmaceda and Sergio C. Stone, have been accused by the university of stealing the eggs and embryos of scores of women at various clinics and implanting them in others.
The trio deny wrongdoing. Stone’s attorney contends the endocrinologist rarely performed transfers.
The lawsuit also names at least eight current and former UC Irvine employees, including the clinic biologists and former UCI Medical Center executive director Mary Piccione.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
