Dutch fertility doctor fathered 17 children

A deceased gynaecologist fathered 17 children with women who thought they were receiving sperm from anonymous donors, a Dutch hospital said yesterday.

Jan Wildschut worked from 1981 to 1993 at the fertility clinic of the former Sophia hospital, today called Isala hospital in Zwolle. “A total of 17 donor children are currently known,” Isala said, describing Dr Wildschut’s actions as “morally unacceptable”. Dr Wildschut died in 2009.