NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Patients want answers after a lawsuit against the Center for Reproductive Health — a now-defunct fertility clinic in Nashville — after the state said money from the lawsuit could not go to patients but instead had to be turned over to the Tennessee Attorney General.
Now, the AG's Office has agreed to meet with patients later this month. This started back in April when the fertility clinic shut down abruptly. Some patients were in the middle of their fertility treatments while hundreds of others suddenly had no way to access their frozen eggs and embryos.
A lawsuit was filed, but the money from the lawsuit isn't going to patients. The AG's office said the money couldn't be used to pay out or cover the damages of individual consumers.
Back story: State agrees to pay $1.6 million to cover costs after Nashville fertility clinic closes
More than $1.6 million of state money has been set aside to pay the company and lawyers brought in by the Tennessee Attorney General's Office to wind things down at the former Nashville fertility clinic.
"When we filed the lawsuit, we also asked for an order from the court appointing a receiver, which is a business person appointed by the judge to take over the business," a letter from AG Jonathan Skrmetti's stated. "We requested this relief so that there was someone in place who could make sure patients’ genetic material were properly protected and a plan was put in place for patients to continue their care. Understandably, many patients have questions and concerns about the State’s lawsuit. In response to requests from patients to meet with us about the case, our office is hosting an in-person meeting for patients."
The state is covering a lot of other expenses too, including the cost to transfer all of the embryos to the new fertility clinic and store them at no charge to patients for the next six months and store patients' medical records for the next 10 years.
The AG's Office shared this additional context about the ongoing legal saga.
“The Attorney General's Office is authorized to use the Office’s consumer protection funds to support the Attorney General’s efforts to enforce violations of the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act throughout the state," said Chief Deputy Attorney General Lacey Mase. "To bring an immediate end to TCPA violations, the Attorney General may request, and a court may appoint, a receiver to manage the operations of a business violating the Act. Depending upon the financial state of the business, the Attorney General may be responsible for the costs of a court-appointed receiver, and may use available funds to meet that responsibility. The AG’s Office, however, cannot use its funds to pay out or cover the damages that TCPA defendants may have caused to individual consumers. Here, the $1.65 million for the CRH Receiver’s anticipated fees and costs is being provided to fund ongoing efforts that support Dr. Vasquez’s former patients as they transition their care to their chosen providers. The funds will pay for, among other things, the safe transfer of patients’ embryos and genetic materials to Tennessee Fertility Institute for continuing care, maintenance, and access by patients, and ongoing maintenance and administration of medical records of the former patients of CRH. It is the hope of the AG’s Office that these funds will in some way help all former patients of Dr. Vasquez successfully move past this very challenging and distressing part of their lives.”
If you have questions prior
Patients can email their questions to Kristine.Knowles@ag.tn.gov. by Nov. 11.
How to attend the meeting
If you plan on attending the meeting, please email Rachael Thomas at Rachael.Thomas@ag.tn.gov by Nov. 15. Please indicate if you are bringing a plus one and include their name.
- Time: Nov. 18 at 5:30 p.m.
- Location: John Sevier State Office Building 500 Dr. MLK, Jr. Boulevard Nashville, TN, 37219
- Instructions: The visitor entrance is on the Rep. John Lewis Way side of the building — look for a pair of double doors. Visitors will need to sign in with security and show ID. Let security know you are attending the CRH patient meeting and are going to level G.
- Parking: Visitors can park in front of our building located on Dr. MLK, Jr. Boulevard in any lots/spaces designated R, as those spots are available to the public after 5 p.m. on weekdays. There is also a paid garage across Rep. John Lewis Way (enter on MLK). A few blocks away, there is metered street parking on Deaderick Street near the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, which is one street over from MLK. The garage of the Nashville Public Library is also available for parking. If you have any trouble finding the building or the visitor entrance, please call 615-532- 8051.
Do you have more information about this story? You can email us at newsroom@newschannel5.com.
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