Woman claims IVF 'add-on' treatment caused her stroke

A top London executive is fighting for compensation over claims that a fertility treatment “bootcamp” at a prestigious clinic caused her to have a devastating stroke.

- NEVILE AYLING

Navkiran Dhillon-Byrne, 51, began a cycle of private IVF treatment at the Assisted Reproduction and Gynaecology Centre (ARGC) in Wimpole street, London, in 2018, four years after being told that the NHS was unable to fund her.

The ARGC clinic, headed up by pioneering IVF specialist Mohamed Taranissi, speaks on its website of staff focusing on “in-depth investigations, daily monitoring and real-time treatment adjustments” and displays the slogan “some call it IVF boot camp – our patients call it their miracle”.

Ms Dhillon-Byrne underwent IVF in April 2018, but suffered a stroke on 28 April, 10 days after her treatment finished, which her lawyers say has left her with ongoing vision problems.

As part of her IVF cycle, she had also agreed to undergo a one-off “add-on” treatment in the form of pioneering IVIg immunotherapy, designed to moderate the body’s immune responses during pregnancy. She is now suing the clinic and Dr Taranissi, claiming medics failed to give her sufficient warnings about stroke risks connected with that part of her therapy. But the clinic and Dr Taranissi deny blame, insisting that Ms Dhillon-Byrne was given the full facts over the risks she faced and also disputing that IVIg caused her stroke.

Central London County Court heard that after ageing beyond her window for NHS fertility treatment, Ms Dhillon-Byrne had an unsuccessful attempt at IVF at another well-regarded London clinic before turning to the ARGC. She told the court she had been trying to bear a child since 2014.