A Netflix documentary in May 2022 revealed a series of cases where fertility doctors used their own sperm to create 94 children, a practice known as "fertility fraud." These cases occurred between the 1970s and 1980s and were discovered through at-home DNA sampling kits and pedigree sketching sites. The Idaho woman, Sharon Hayes, had two children conceived by artificial insemination, with the second daughter being conceived 35 years ago in Spokane, where she underwent fertility treatment under Dr. Claypool. In 1989, Dr. David R. Claypool used freshly obtained sperm samples from donors, who were healthy college students with the same physical characteristics as Sharon's then-husband, to artificially inseminate Sharon. The treatment lasted almost six months, with the doctor taking several hundred dollars in extra cash not covered by insurance to pay the donors.
Brianna Hayes has been sick since childhood, and this puzzled Sharon, who had her doubts about Dr. Claypool but eventually forgot them. Brianna Hayes, who had an Epstein-Barr virus infection in adolescence, leukemia in childhood, and underwent five hip surgeries, became intrigued about her genetics and sought help from at-home kits and websites. She was shocked to find that she had many half-siblings from the Spokane area. She then met with these half-siblings and traced their lineage to Dr. Claypool, with whom their profiles were a perfect match.
In Washington and other states, there are no laws against doctors covertly using their own sperm in fertility procedures. This has led to a malpractice suit and a claim under the Consumer Protection Act seeking financial damages since the doctor failed to obtain informed consent and charged money for sperm from unidentified donors but used his own sperm instead. The doctor, who was unaware of the accusations, claimed that his patients were very happy with his treatment. His attorney, Drew Dalton, commented that the matter was under mediation, while RJ Ermola, Hayes’ attorney, said that the matter was still unsettled.
Mrs. Hayes declared that the doctor had to be held responsible, while Brianna Hayes expressed her support for her mom's peace and justice.
(Input from various media sources)
(Rehash/Bharkhavy KV)
