A central Florida couple has filed a lawsuit against a fertility clinic after genetic testing confirmed that the baby girl they welcomed through IVF is not biologically related to either of them. Tiffany Score and Steven Mills discovered the heartbreaking error shortly after the child’s birth in December 2025, when a visible racial difference prompted DNA tests that revealed no genetic connection. Despite the shock, the couple has formed a profound bond with the little girl and expressed their commitment to raising her, while seeking urgent answers about what went wrong.
The couple created three viable embryos from their own eggs and sperm in 2020 and placed them in cryogenic storage at the Fertility Center of Orlando. In April 2025, the clinic implanted what was believed to be one of those embryos into Score, resulting in a successful full-term pregnancy. The baby was born on December 11, 2025, but the family soon realized something was amiss, leading to tests that upended their lives. They allege the clinic implanted the wrong embryo, potentially affecting other patients as well.
Following multiple unanswered attempts to contact the clinic, Score and Mills filed suit on January 22, 2026, in Orange County Circuit Court against the facility’s operating company and its director, Dr. Milton McNichol. The complaint demands a full accounting of their remaining embryos, notification of the child’s biological parents, and genetic testing for children born through the clinic in recent years. During an emergency virtual hearing this week, attorneys reported progress toward an agreement, with the clinic committing to cooperate on expedited testing while raising privacy concerns for other patients.
Dr. McNichol, a reproductive endocrinologist with decades of experience, leads the Longwood-based practice, which has promoted personalized IVF care. However, state records show the clinic faced disciplinary action in 2024, including a fine and required education after an inspection uncovered issues with equipment and medication management. You can review his professional license details through the Florida Department of Health practitioner portal.
This case shines a light on the rare but devastating risks in assisted reproduction, where even small lapses can alter families forever. The couple’s public statements reflect a nuanced reality: deep love for the child they hold alongside a sense of duty to uncover the truth for everyone involved, including possible other affected parents. As IVF continues to grow without uniform federal oversight, incidents like this raise pressing questions about mandatory auditing, tracking technology, and emotional support for patients navigating these irreversible mistakes. Stronger safeguards could protect the trust that families place in these life-creating procedures.
