Sperm Donor Faces Blowback After Fathering 15 Kids Without Disclosing Genetic Defect

A sperm donor from the United Kingdom was publicly named and barred from seeing the children his sperm created after he reportedly misled parents by not telling them about a genetic condition that he suffers from.

James MacDougall, a 37-year-old man, placed an advert in the newspaper promoting his services as a sperm donor directly to lesbian couples. He would reportedly not have been allowed to donate his sperm in a clinic due to his genetic condition, according to the Guardian.

In spite of his sperm being used by many lesbian couples, MacDougall did not disclose to them that he has the fragile-X syndrome, a genetic condition that causes developmental problems in children and which can be passed down to future generations, BBC News reported.

Three women who received MacDougall’s sperm have opposed allowing him any contact with their children, with many saying that MacDougall had deceived them regarding his condition and that he continued to try and contact the children in spite of signing contracts not to do so.

His sperm produced over 15 children, some of which he is attempting to get some parental responsibility. He has largely been barred from contacting the children his sperm produced by their families.

“Although the agreement does refer to fragile-X, [MacDougall] took no steps to explain the condition to [the women] and no steps to ensure they understood. [He] took advantage of these young women’s vulnerability and their strong desire to have children,” Justice Lieven said in her ruling.

Because of that, one of the children that were conceived using MacDougall’s sperm is reported to be nonverbal and “behaviorally challenging,” worrying the child’s parents regarding their future.

MacDougall was publicly named by Justice Lieven during her ruling because of her belief that MacDougall would not stop providing his services as a sperm donor in the future and believed him to be a potential risk for future couples looking to conceive.

“I have no confidence that he will not act as a sperm donor in the future,” she said. “I equally have no confidence in him fully explaining to any woman the true implications of his fragile-X syndrome. There is therefore a very specific benefit in him being named in the hope that women will look him up on the internet and see this judgment.”