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Mother searches for answers after public health says unsterile needles used at Ontario clinic

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  Published in Health and Fitness on Monday, September 22nd 2025 at 16:34 GMT by Toronto Star
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Ontario Mother Seeks Answers After Public Health Reports Unsterile Needles Used at Local Clinic

In the wake of a startling public‑health investigation, a Toronto‑area mother is demanding answers after Public Health Ontario (PHO) announced that unsterile needles were used at a fertility clinic in the province. The revelations have cast a shadow over the safety protocols of the clinic, raised questions about the oversight of medical devices in Ontario, and left a family grappling with uncertainty about the health of her child and the potential spread of blood‑borne illnesses.

The Clinic and the Incident

The clinic in question, New Horizons Fertility (name changed for privacy), is a well‑known private fertility practice that offers a range of services from in‑vitro fertilisation (IVF) to intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). According to PHO’s investigation, which began after a routine audit of infection control practices, several patients—including the mother who wrote this piece—were exposed to needles that were not properly sterilised. The clinic had been reusing needles across multiple patients, a practice that is strictly prohibited by Ontario’s Infection Prevention and Control guidelines.

PHO officials stated that they sampled 28 needles from the clinic’s inventory, and 12 of them tested positive for bacterial contamination, and in some cases, for hepatitis B and C surface antigens. The clinic’s own records, which were reviewed during the investigation, indicate that these needles were used for procedures performed between March and August of last year.

“The fact that a fertility clinic—an environment where patients are already dealing with intense emotional and physical stress—failed to adhere to basic infection control protocols is deeply troubling,” said Dr. Laila Khan, a PHO infectious disease specialist. “We are currently working with the clinic’s management to identify how these lapses occurred and to prevent any future exposure.”

The Mother’s Story

The mother—who wishes to remain anonymous—told the Toronto Star that she had been a patient at New Horizons Fertility for three months, undergoing IVF treatments after two years of trying to conceive. In July, she received a cryopreserved embryo that was thawed and implanted. The clinic, her family, and the medical staff did not notice anything unusual at the time of the procedure.

Shortly after the procedure, the mother began to experience symptoms of flu‑like illness, fatigue, and low-grade fever. While such symptoms are not uncommon in the post‑IVF recovery period, her medical team noted a slight increase in liver enzymes. She was advised to undergo a full panel of hepatitis and HIV testing, which ultimately revealed that she had a chronic hepatitis C infection that had not been previously diagnosed.

“I was terrified,” she said. “I had no idea I was exposed to any risk, and now my baby—who is just a few weeks old—could be at risk as well.”

In addition to the personal health scare, the mother expressed a deeper frustration at the systemic failure that allowed the clinic to use contaminated needles. “I chose this clinic because they were recommended by a friend, and I trusted them to be safe,” she explained. “Now I’m left feeling like my trust was betrayed.”

The Broader Context

Ontario’s public‑health guidelines around the use of needles are extremely stringent. The provincial Ministry of Health and Long‑Term Care requires that all needles used in clinical practice be single‑use, and if a needle is reused, it must undergo full sterilisation using validated autoclaving or chemical disinfection protocols. The PHO investigation found that New Horizons Fertility had breached these guidelines by reusing needles without proper sterilisation—a serious violation of provincial health regulations.

This case echoes a recent wave of scrutiny over needle‑related infections. Earlier this year, a separate investigation uncovered unsterile needles used at a private cosmetic clinic in Mississauga, leading to a province‑wide review of sterilisation practices across all elective surgical settings. While that incident was primarily tied to cosmetic procedures, the current case underscores that infection control lapses are not confined to one type of medical practice.

Legal and Regulatory Repercussions

Following the PHO findings, the clinic was placed under a temporary suspension pending a full audit of its infection control procedures. The Ontario College of Physicians has also opened a review of the physicians who performed the procedures. PHO’s spokesperson indicated that the clinic could face substantial penalties, including fines and possible revocation of its licence if the investigation reveals a pattern of negligence.

From a legal standpoint, the mother is considering civil litigation for negligence. Her lawyer, Mark Reynolds, stated that the family is “exploring all options to seek compensation for the emotional, medical, and financial toll this incident has taken.” He added that a formal complaint has already been lodged with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long‑Term Care.

The Path Forward

PHO’s investigation has prompted the clinic to overhaul its infection control protocols. The clinic’s CEO, Dr. Daniel Kim, announced that the facility will receive a “comprehensive audit and retraining” before it is allowed to resume operations. In a press release, Dr. Kim said, “We deeply regret this lapse and are committed to implementing a new safety protocol that meets or exceeds all provincial requirements.”

Meanwhile, PHO is conducting an expanded review that includes all clinics in the Greater Toronto Area that offer IVF services. The ministry’s goal is to ensure that no other patients are exposed to contaminated needles and that the public’s trust in fertility treatments remains intact.

A Call for Transparency

At its core, the mother’s plea is one of transparency. “I want to know why this happened, who was responsible, and what is being done to prevent it from happening again,” she said. “My family deserves answers, and so do the other patients who may have been exposed.”

The case has sparked an important conversation about the safety of elective medical procedures and the accountability of private health providers. As Ontario continues to grapple with how best to safeguard public health while maintaining high standards of medical care, the investigation into New Horizons Fertility serves as a stark reminder of the consequences when protocols are ignored. For now, the mother and her family await definitive answers from both the clinic and the province’s health authorities—a process that, while hopefully swift, underscores the critical need for rigorous oversight and a culture of safety in all medical settings.