Couple Dating Turns Out to Be Half-Siblings... Doctor Impregnates Dozens of Infertile Patients with His Own Sperm

Failure to Notify Infertility Patients of Use of Own Sperm
Some Family Members Unaware of This Fact Sue Doctor
Similar Cases Have Already Occurred Multiple Times in US Society

A doctor in the United States was exposed for impregnating more than 20 infertility patients with his own sperm, shocking American society. Most notably, the crimes mainly occurred in the 1980s, and it was revealed that a male and a female born to mothers treated by the doctor unknowingly dated each other during high school, unaware that they shared the same father.

On the 18th (local time), CNN reported the story of a woman who sent her saliva sample to the genetic analysis company '23andMe' due to health concerns and faced a shocking truth. Through the service, she discovered from the DNA analysis results that she had 22 half-siblings.

Janine Pearson visited Dr. Burton Caldwell, who impregnated 22 patients with his own sperm without consent at an infertility clinic last year, and took a final photo with him.
[Photo by CNN]

The woman, deeply shocked, eventually contacted her half-siblings to find out why this had happened. After communicating with those she reached, she learned that her mother and the mothers of her siblings all visited an infertility clinic located in New Haven, Connecticut, where they were treated by Dr. Burton Caldwell. Even more shocking was that two of these half-siblings had dated each other in high school without knowing they shared the same father.

Among those who confirmed that Dr. Caldwell impregnated infertility patients with his own sperm, Janine Pearson and her mother sued Dr. Caldwell. At the time, Dr. Caldwell reportedly told Pearson’s mother, who wanted artificial insemination, that "there was an anonymous Yale University medical intern willing to be a sperm donor and that fresh (non-frozen) semen would be provided," and proceeded with the artificial insemination procedure. However, Pearson’s mother said she was never told that the sperm used in the insemination was Dr. Caldwell’s and emphasized, "I never agreed to have Dr. Caldwell’s child."

Dr. Caldwell is currently in his 80s, retired, and spending time at home. He reportedly admitted to his past actions when he met with Pearson, who sought him out. With the development of home DNA kits in the U.S., such unethical acts committed by doctors before the 2000s are being uncovered. CNN pointed out that the U.S. infertility industry is severely underregulated compared to other countries.

In particular, more than 30 doctors across the United States have been arrested or charged for secretly using their own sperm in patients’ procedures. In some states, 'infertility fraud' is not defined as a crime, allowing doctors to avoid punishment. Marvin Usman, a doctor in Kentucky, admitted to using his own sperm on about six patients, but the medical board refused to revoke his medical license due to insufficient evidence.