Accused fertility doc says law protects him from DNA test

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press


Updated 1:00 pm CST, Saturday, February 9, 2019

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — The lawyer for a fertility doctor accused of using his own sperm to impregnate a woman in the 1970s says Vermont law forbids DNA paternity tests for sperm donors.

The Times Argus reports that a motion by the doctor's attorney contends the parentage law designed to protect sperm donors prevents them from being genetically tested to demonstrate paternity. The motion also contends state family courts, not federal courts, have jurisdiction over determining parentage.

A Florida couple sued retired Vermont Dr. John Coates on Dec. 4 in U.S. District Court.

The lawsuit says the couple discovered what had happened when their now-grown daughter sought information about her biological father through genetic testing databases such as Ancestry.com. They say they were stunned when the tests showed Coates was the father.

Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Accused-fertility-doc-says-law-protects-him-from-13603875.php

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(Short article, no more at link.)

[iluvtennis]

1. SMDH that he will likely get off

[Odoreida]

2. No matter what happens now ...

... the theory of evolution says his genes win.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

3. If the law says that DNA of legitimate sperm donors can't be tested, ...

... then the question is: can the doctor be a legitimate sperm donor in his own clinic?

If so, there's no problem. If not, then his DNA can be compelled for testing. Or so it seems.

[winstars]

4. There was a Law and Order episode about a doctor who father dozens of children...

An episode ripped from the headlines of FUTURE news stories???

[TexasBushwhacker]

5. That was based on another doctor

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecil_Jacobson

[allgood33]

6. Just me but I think in order to become a sperm donor your DNA should be on record.

possible health issues for all involved.

[LisaL]

7. Isn't their whole lawsuit is based on the idea that he was not supposed to have been

the sperm donor? He is saying sperm donors can't be tested but why would that apply to him if he wasn't supposed to have been a sperm donor?

[rocktivity]

8. Nice try, doc -- but that law applies to sperm DONORS

Unless you had your patients' legal knowledge and consent to be their sperm donor, you were "just" supposed to be their DOCTOR, LOL


rocktivity