Woman sues over claims fertility clinic ‘bootcamp’ made her have a stroke

A successful executive is fighting for compensation over claims that a fertility treatment “boot camp” at a prestigious clinic caused her to suffer a devastating stroke.

Navkiran Dhillon-Byrne, 51, started private IVF treatment at the Assisted Reproductive and Gynecology Center (ARGC) in Wimpole Street, London, in 2018, four years after she was told the NHS could not fund her.

The ARGC clinic, run by pioneering IVF specialist Mohamed Taranissi, focuses on “in-depth research, daily monitoring and real-time treatment adjustments,” the staff says on its website and displays the slogan “some call it an IVF boot camp – our patients call it a miracle.”

Ms Dhillon-Byrne underwent in vitro fertilization treatment in April 2018 but suffered a stroke on April 28, 10 days after her treatment ended, which her lawyers said left her with ongoing vision problems.

As part of her in vitro fertilization cycle, she had also agreed to undergo one-off “additional” treatment in the form of pioneering IVIg immunotherapy, designed to moderate the body’s immune responses during pregnancy.

Now back to the clinic and Dr. She’s suing Taranissi and claims medical officials failed to adequately warn her about the risks of stroke associated with this part of her treatment.

But the clinic and Dr Taranissi deny the accusation, insisting Ms Dhillon-Byrne was given all the facts about the risks she faced and also disputes that IVIg caused the stroke.

Central London District Court heard Ms Dhillon-Byrne made an unsuccessful attempt at IVF at another reputable London clinic before turning to the ARGC after climbing out of her window for NHS fertility treatment. She told the court she had been trying to conceive a child since 2014.

Ms Dhillon-Byrne, a marketing manager at the City of London headquarters of an international software company, said she chose ARGC on the recommendation of a friend who praised its high success rates.

But he says he was not warned about the “specific” thrombosis risks associated with the IVIg portion of his treatment, which he blames for the stroke he suffered on April 28, 2018.

Ms Dhillon-Byrne, who is now suing for negligence and breach of duty, also claims the clinic overestimated her chances of a successful outcome from in vitro fertilization and failed to obtain her “informed consent” before starting treatment.

She insists that she would not have consented to IVF and complementary IVIG therapy had she been given a clear picture of her chances of a successful pregnancy.

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Dismissing Ms Dhillon-Byrne’s claims, the clinic’s KC, Clodagh Bradley, told the court the success rate advice was “correct and in line with the ARGC data”, adding that she had also been informed that immunotherapy was new and “still controversial”.

But in her statement, Ms Dhillon-Byrne said she felt rushed during some of her examinations and claimed she received little information about the role of IVIg treatment when she raised the issue with one of the clinic’s doctors.

“I asked why it would be used,” he explained, but added: “I was being pushed out the door and he didn’t share a lot of information with me other than they found it more effective.”

He added that he was shocked by the indifference his consultant showed towards him as a patient: “My first meeting was quite quick, I remember walking out with my wife and being surprised by how long it lasted. It was definitely not a meeting time we were used to.”

“We were a bit surprised,” he told the court, but defense lawyer Ms Bradley insisted there should have been a “long and detailed consultation” given her doctor’s careful and full clinical note.

Ms Dhillon-Byrne’s lawyer, Charles Feeny, argued it was “unethical” to offer his client IVIg treatment, adding: “A responsible medical doctor cannot prescribe and administer a high-risk treatment without substantial evidence to support its potential benefit and without informing the patient of the risk.”

“Therefore, offering IVIg therapy was unethical.”

He argued that the clinic also failed to clarify the risks of stroke factors associated with IVIg.

“Plaintiff was given no warning regarding the specific risk of thrombosis with IVIg therapy,” he continued.

“In the defendant’s case, he was only warned about the risk of thrombosis in IVF treatment/pregnancy, but was not warned about the additional risk of IVIg treatment.”

But Ms Bradley argued Ms Dhillon-Byrne was determined to continue her treatment even if it carried risks, claiming she was “considering further in vitro fertilization treatment in 2018 and 2019, even after her stroke”, which the expectant mother’s lawyers denied.

“During consultations, engagements and telephone conversations with the ARGC, the claimant was given reasonable and appropriate advice regarding IVF and IVIg treatment and gave informed consent after being appropriately informed of the risks and benefits, alternative options and the option not to treat,” he said.

“Regarding the risk of thrombosis, the claimant would have been informed of the potential risk posed by all IVF treatment.

“Thrombosis can occur in the event of high estrogen levels,” Ms Bradley told the court, adding that aspirin and other preventive medications were prescribed.

Ms Dhillon-Byrne’s claim, if successful, would likely be worth “millions” due to the impact the stroke had on her high-flying career, lawyers told the court.

The trial continues.