A Melbourne woman has lost four embryos after the Mediterranean Fertility Institute in Chania, Crete, was raided by Greek police three years ago.
The woman, identified as Maggie, had stored embryos created with her own eggs and donor sperm at the clinic. When she later requested their return from Chania hospital, staff told her none of her material had been found.
The clinic had been heavily promoted in Melbourne and Italy. Maggie had travelled to Crete, made multiple payments and was told her first two embryo transfers had failed. She now questions whether the embryos were sold to other clients.
On Wednesday, 33 defendants—including clinic founder Ioannis Giakoumakis, 76, and chief embryologist Diamantis “Danny” Dafnis, 47—begin a year-long trial in Chania. They face charges including facilitating a criminal organisation, fraud, human trafficking, illegal sale of genetic material, fake embryo transplants and forging medical documents.
Dozens of Australians are among the alleged victims. Maggie later had a second child via surrogacy in Africa using a donor egg. She said she would not have used the Crete clinic if she had known of the alleged deceit.
Name changed to protect identity.
Source: Jacquelin Magnay, The Australian
Bill Giannopoulos
Junior Editor
Bill Giannopoulos is a Junior Editor at Greek City Times, covering Greek and international news, sport, and history.