Dozens of women who received IVF treatment were awarded settlements in their case against Yale University’s Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility clinic in Orange, Connecticut. While the details of the legal arrangements have not been disclosed, lawyers state that the settlement includes significant financial compensation. The case against the prestigious university began in 2021, with 150 women eventually coming forward to share their horror stories of enduring excruciating pain during what was supposed to be a painless egg retrieval process.
At a news conference, one of the plaintiffs, Shannon Garfield, recalled her experience: “I was completely awake and in so much pain, as I was crying and yelling.” Unfortunately, her experience was not unique. Donna Monticone, a nurse at the clinic who developed an addiction, tampered with approximately 75% of the fentanyl administered at the clinic, either diluting the drug or replacing it entirely with saline.
Due in part to Yale’s failure to adhere to mandated pharmacy protocols for narcotics storage, Monticone was able to return approximately 175 stolen vials of fentanyl on November 1, 2020, and discard them at the facility. Despite numerous complaints from women describing unbearable pain, it took months for clinic staff to investigate why so many patients were suffering during a procedure meant to be painless. This delay points to a systemic issue in which women’s pain is often dismissed or minimized by medical professionals, delaying proper diagnosis and action.
Monticone was sentenced to four weekends in prison, three months of home confinement, and three years of supervised release. While she bears responsibility for her actions, the clinic’s lack of oversight in monitoring narcotic use and its failure to listen to the women in their care rendered them legally liable.
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