California fertility doctor Brian Acaccio is sued for “stealing” embryos

Southern California fertility doctor who attended President Biden’s 2024 State of the Union A Democratic California congressman who spoke as a guest in a controversial lawsuit has been accused of stealing with dozens of couples’ embryos.

It was by Dr. Brian Acaccio IVF clinic In tony Laguna Niguel, Orange County, before the clinic suddenly closed and… Medical license suspended to take drugs, KTLA reported.

He took the embryos about three hours north to Bakersfield, prompting 26 distraught couples to file a lawsuit to have them returned.

“I don’t know where our embryos are, and I don’t know if they’re okay. It’s like a hostage situation,” one of the women involved in the lawsuit said. he said, according to KTLA. “I feel like they were kidnapped.”

The civil lawsuit, filed in Orange County Superior Court, alleges that Acacio transferred the embryos without their permission after he failed to tell them that his license had been suspended by the Medical Board of California.

“When the patients started to learn what had happened, they demanded that their embryos be returned immediately,” Robert Marcero, an attorney for the firm representing the couples, said during a press conference on Tuesday.

“Dr. Acacio refused, saying he would not return the embryos unless the patients signed a document absolving him of any responsibility for his conduct.”

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Many patients did not learn that their embryos had been transferred until they tried to schedule the transfer – the final stage of the process In vitro fertilization process – or heard about Acacia transmission through other patients and social media, According to the Los Angeles Times.

“Our first and most important goal is the legal, rapid and safe transfer of these embryos to their place,” said attorney Benjamin Ikuta. “He stole these people’s embryos. He held their families hostage, and we want answers.”

The legal battles come after the Medical Board of California issued an order barring Acacio from practicing medicine after he allegedly violated restrictions on his medical license.

According to the board, Acacio’s license was first placed under restrictions in October 2025 that required him to abstain from controlled substances and submit to biological testing.

But regulators later determined that he violated those conditions after he tested positive for marijuana, resulting in a stop-practice order on December 30, 2025 prohibiting him from treating patients unless he completes a period of negative drug tests and receives clearance to return to work.

The lawsuit alleges that Acacio continued to see patients even after his license was suspended and failed to disclose the disciplinary action. Around that time, the Laguna Niguel clinic in Acacio was forced to close after falling more than $240,000 behind on rent.

For many couples, this ordeal has been emotionally devastating. “We’ve been through a lot,” Christina Chandler said through tears at the news conference. “We just need them to be responsible. We want our embryos.”

Acasio was invited to President Biden’s recent State of the Union address by Rep. Mike Levin, who is from North San Diego County and South Orange County.

At the time, Levin said that Acacio “is frequently ranked as one of the top reproductive endocrinologists in California and in the country,” noting that his “life-changing fertility work has helped thousands of California families.”

“As we defend reproductive freedom from attacks by MAGA extremist Republicans, I am proud to stand with Dr. Acasio and President Biden to ensure families have access to the reproductive tools and health care they need,” Levine added.