Gynecologist discredited: “This looks like a witch hunt”
An anonymous man in his thirties accuses the doctor of being his biological father by inseminating his sperm on his mother in the early eighties. There is no hard evidence, as long as the doctor does not allow DNA testing. The VZW donor children, which stands up for the interests of donor children, insists on a legal framework that removes the anonymity of sperm donors.
The targeted gynecologist was at the helm of the maternity unit in the Torhoutse Sint-Rembert Hospital from 1980 to 2016. In Ter Zake, an anonymous man in his thirties accused the retired doctor of being his biological father. And he would have helped even more mothers with a child with his sperm. Steph Raeymaekers, VZW Donorkinderen: “The counter is 4 for that doctor, now as a presumptive biological father. He has not yet done a DNA test. We hope he does.” Many donor children look for their biological parent. This can be done, for example, via commercial DNA databases. You can trace a match with a sperm donor with your own DNA material for as little as eighty euros. “The donor child contacted the doctor himself in 2015. He has given him plenty of time to take responsibility. He has had 7 years to act correctly.”
“I neither confirm nor deny”
The prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation against the doctor, who is now 70. But the chances are that the facts are time-barred. GV (70), retired gynecologist: “I neither confirm nor deny the allegations. Eight days ago, while on holiday in Tenerife, I was contacted by the VRT to participate in a report on fertility treatment. It turned out to be a complaint. I will not comment on the case itself, I will be assisted by experienced lawyers. This is like a witch hunt.”
There used to be no discussion and no control over the anonymity of sperm donors. Anyone, including a doctor, could therefore be the biological father. The non-profit organization donor children is pressing for a legal framework that puts an end to the anonymity of sperm donors. Steph Raeymaekers, VZW Donorkinderen: “Everyone has the right to know where they come from. This fundamental right is also included in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. But it does not apply to donor children. It is important for those who want to know. We are discriminated against , we want to be able to know, even if not everyone wants to.”
Six years ago, the fertility doctor from Torhout was also discredited. He was then convicted of accidental killing after a lawsuit over the removal of a fatal uterine tumor.