A baby girl born in Naples following assisted reproduction treatment at San Paolo Hospital has no genetic link to the parents currently raising her. More than a year after her birth in June 2025, the origin of the embryo remains unknown, leaving 25 couples treated at the facility seeking answers.
The case came to light after the child was born to a 36-year-old woman. Upon receiving the neonatal report, the parents noticed that the baby had blood type B, whereas both parents were blood type A. After initially suspecting a laboratory error, a second analysis confirmed the result, and subsequent DNA testing verified that the child shared no genetic connection with the couple. The 41-year-old father told Corriere della Sera that their world fell apart upon learning that the implanted embryo belonged to another couple.
Hypotheses on improper embryo labeling
How the error occurred has not yet been precisely determined, although one hypothesis suggests that the test tube containing the thawed embryo carried an incorrect name on its label prior to implantation. A joint inspection conducted in late July 2025 by the Italian National Transplant Centre and the Italian Ministry of Health detected deficiencies in data management and errors in transcriptions. Inspectors described the situation at the facility as out of control, according to Corriere della Sera.
Among the operational issues discovered, inspectors found a digital archive related to patient treatments that could not be accessed because the password was held by a doctor who no longer worked at the hospital. The Naples Prosecutor's Office and the Italian Carabinieri are investigating the incident under the hypothesis of a possible crime of reckless injury. The assisted reproduction centre remained closed for over a year and began resuming activity at the beginning of August following a reorganization of its facilities and control systems.
Concerns among other treated couples
Doubts now extend to 25 couples who received assisted reproduction treatment at the centre during the same period. One couple, whose blood type would be compatible with that of the child, has hired the same lawyer representing the parents currently raising her. A 49-year-old businessman from that couple stated that they had been requesting information about their embryos for a year without receiving a response, adding that his wife repeatedly says the child could be theirs.
Despite the uncertainty, the businessman assured that he has no intention of separating the child from the woman who gestated and gave birth to her. He stated that he would never take the girl away from the woman who carried her in her womb and gave birth to her, but emphasized that his family wants clarity regarding what occurred.
Status of frozen embryos and legal standing
The parents raising the girl have expressed additional concerns regarding what happened to their five embryos that were frozen at the centre. They fear that one of their embryos might have been implanted in another woman, although ASL Napoli 1 Centro asserted that this did not occur. The health administration stated that while an error occurred in the implantation procedure, their embryos were not transferred to any other patients.
The father raising the child emphasized that he considers her his daughter regardless of the circumstances. He stated that they love the girl, noting that his wife carried her in her womb, gave birth to her, breastfed her, and that they are raising her with all possible love. The child has now turned one year old, while the identity of her biological parents remains unknown as the investigation continues.
