A judge has granted University Hospitals' request for a gag order in its case involving the fertility clinic error that destroyed thousands of eggs and embryos in March.
As a result of the gag order, attorneys and parties involved in the consolidated lawsuit against UH will not be allowed to speak or provide statements to the media about aspects of the case that could influence public opinion or provide information that could interfere with a fair trial.
Attorneys are still permitted to discuss information that is public record, scheduling information, and the general nature of any allegations or defenses, according to documents filed Thursday.
On March 3, a storage tank temperature fluctuation at the fertility center led to the inviability of 4,000 eggs and embryos at University Hospitals Fertility Clinic, turning the lives of local families upside down. UH blamed human error for the malfunction.
After hundreds of families were given the devastating news that they had lost a chance — for many the only chance — to have a biological child, several lawsuits were filed against UH. In April, all cases against the hospital regarding the fertility clinic error were consolidated.
