Tense and uncertain days are passing for the 22 women for whom the Family Court approved this week to undergo genetic tests. These tests are supposed to determine which of them is the mother of the baby Sophia who was born about two months ago.
Following the tragic egg failure that occurred at Asuta Hospital in Rishon Lezion, it was decided that a test will be carried out
The genetic link between six other couples and the baby girl In an interview with Israel Hayom, Orit (pseudonym), one of the patients in the ward who is being tested for the possibility of contact with the baby girl, shares the difficult feelings she and her family are going through.
"When we heard about the decision, we told ourselves that justice was being served," says Orit about the moment when the women's petition to carry out the tests was approved.
The woman who gave birth to Sofia and her partner said they would appeal the decision and ask to delay its execution, but Orit asks them to stop doing so.
"I understand that they don't want the girl taken from them, but she has parents. I tell them: ask for compensation from whoever needs it, but don't take from me what may belong to me. I didn't choose to hand her over, they took her from me."
Sofia was born after a difficult pregnancy, during which she needed a dangerous operation which was performed by the expectant mother and her partner.
Both are not her genetic parents, but announced as soon as the case was revealed that they intend to fight for the upbringing of the girl.
Orit turns to the woman who gave birth to Sophia and asks her to allow the tests to take place as planned.
"She knows what it is to create an embryo. There are parents who want to know if this is their baby, it is inhumane to stop them. You cannot say such a thing to biological parents. You raised an embryo not your own, so what kind of heart do you have to take from another mother?"
Family Court (those photographed have no relation to the news): Photo: Yehoshua Yosef
"I was sure I was in an orderly place"
Orit (44), a mother of two, came to the hospital four years ago with her partner to undergo difficult fertility treatments, after they failed to conceive. "It's a very difficult process, physically and mentally.
You have to inject hormones every day, perform suctions under full anesthesia.
One suction caused bleeding in the uterus and I couldn't walk for several days.
Then there is the return, anticipation of pregnancy and waiting for tests.
This whole process repeats itself.
You combine home, work and life in this.
Not every workplace accepts it.
I had to leave a very good job because I couldn't add hours when every two days you have to do a blood test and an ultrasound."
During the treatments, she became pregnant once and gave birth prematurely.
"I was sure I was in an orderly place, and it seems I'm not. I still have embryos there, and I'm scared to death. I'm afraid to take them. What if they were replaced? I'm told that a genetic test can be performed on the embryos, but that affects the success of the treatment. We are captives in this process, There is no law that will protect us."
"Not an easy process, physically and mentally."
Illustration, photo: GettyImages
For being part of the circle of women for whom there is a reasonable biological connection to the baby girl, Orit learned from a ruling in a previous procedure of a couple of parents who were denied their connection to her.
"When we saw that the dates coincided with our dates, the house did not function. It could be that this is my daughter and I am not with her at the birth. It tears the soul," she says with a shudder, "You cannot tell someone, 'We accidentally left your child with someone else and we will not allow you to tests'."
"It took Asuta over a month to call. It was nerve-racking even after that to wait for everything we wanted, like getting a medical file, it took time and cost money. When we received the medical file, there were things missing. The manuscript was unclear. If I don't succeed, how do they succeed To read this? We are all human who can make mistakes. This is a mistake that should not happen. Where is my country? Who protects me?"
"This is my last chance for a child"
In the shadow of the affair, the mental state of Orit Darder.
"We are neither living nor functioning since we heard that our daughter may have grown up in a house that was not ours. On the day of the hearing, I could not breathe. I felt as if a knife was stuck in my stomach. I understand the suffering, but she should receive the compensation from the one who made the mistake and not from me. We were both hurt From that. The Ministry of Health is doing 'no no no', holding a hearing that is a joke. What's next? In another year or two, they will increase the number of female patients."
How do the children deal with the situation?
"The children don't understand what the consequences of this are. They don't really understand. They see that I'm not functioning and are angry with me for not treating them. I'm constantly crying. For two months I've both had to work and have to take care of this crisis. We're not living. I'm 44 and this My last chance for a child."
Attorney Shmuel Moran, Attorney Dori Caspi and Attorney Shira Friedan, representing the patients: "This is the third time that the court has accepted our full claims on the matter, and has determined that a genetic investigation and identification of the parents must be carried out urgently, first and foremost for the benefit of the girl, and also In order to put an end to ongoing human suffering caused to the patients represented by us."
Masuta stated that: "Unfortunately, we will not be able to comment on claims and reasons for not providing specific details due to individual modesty and medical confidentiality. It should be noted that each patient who was defined in the group of patients who were treated in close proximity to the incident, met with a multi-professional team that included a fertility doctor, a doctor specializing in risk management and a social worker. As far as a payment was collected for The case will be returned in its entirety. Asuta sensitively accompanies the patients and will continue to provide a professional response as needed."
"Urgently carry out a genetic investigation".
Attorney Shira Friedan, photo: Eyal Yitzhar
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