The unexpected turns and twists of life reflect in experiences and now a London couple’s repeated trips and their sudden death in Gujarat after an embryo was ready to be transferred through IVF is making news.
An embryo was ready for transfer, and they boarded AI 17 on June 12 from Ahmedabad, hoping to fulfil their dream in July. The couple were killed in the crash. The embryo lies preserved at a Gujarat IVF centre. For seven years, the couple’s lives had revolved around the aspirations of parenthood. IVF failed multiple times and a miscarriage occurred at seven weeks during one attempt. All along, the woman was being treated for endometriosis – a condition which makes conception difficult. They continued trying.
In April this year, doctors successfully froze an embryo after a corrective surgery. The embryo transfer plan was set for July. The couple’s ancestral home in Gujarat was refurbished, awaiting the new life they believed was on its way.
Under Indian law, “orphan embryos” cannot be donated, and posthumous surrogacy is prohibited. However, because the couple were British citizens, there is a legal pathway for taking the next step. With permission from India’s National Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and Surrogacy Board, the embryo can be transferred abroad, where grandparents may choose to pursue surrogacy. India’s ART law allows embryos to be preserved for a minimum of 10 years, extendable to 20 with approval.
