Yale settles with patients over painful egg retrievals in 2023

In 2023, Yale University reached a settlement with 93 patients who had undergone painful egg retrieval procedures at its fertility clinic in 2020. The patients claimed they experienced excruciating pain due to a nurse's actions, who had replaced their anesthesia with saline. This nurse, Donna Monticone, was later sentenced for her drug-related misconduct. The settlement amount was not disclosed, but lawyers indicated it was substantial, with a proposed figure of around $2 million per patient. The patients' experiences were highlighted in the podcast "The Retrievals," which detailed their suffering and the clinic's failure to address their complaints. An investigation revealed that approximately 75% of the fentanyl administered during the procedures had been tampered with, leading to severe pain for the patients. Yale had previously faced scrutiny for its handling of controlled substances, resulting in a settlement with the Department of Justice. As part of the settlement, Yale agreed to implement significant changes to its fertility clinic operations. This included enhanced staff training and the appointment of a new doctor to oversee the facility. The plaintiffs emphasized that any financial settlement was contingent upon Yale addressing the systemic issues that allowed such misconduct to occur. The case has drawn attention to broader issues within healthcare regarding the security of controlled substances and the potential for similar incidents at other facilities. The experiences of the patients at Yale serve as a cautionary tale about the importance of safeguarding medical practices and ensuring patient safety.