Sperm mix-up gaffe
A German woman has been stripped of child support payments from her ex husband because of a sperm donor mix-up.
The doctor at the fertility clinic she used to help her conceive had apparently mixed up her husband's sperm with that of another donor.
The mistake was only discovered when the boy needed a blood test, and doctors said it was not possible the man could be his natural father.
Munich district court heard how the man had lovingly cared for the boy for years before the mistake was discovered.
The court ruled that the man must not pay for the child's maintenance, now that he and the mother have divorced.
"It's a most unusual case," said court spokeswoman Ingrid Kaps, adding that the man had not actually said he would stop supporting the boy, only that he wanted a declaration of his legal position.
The mother remains the sole guardian of the boy, since it would be nearly impossible to find the 'true' father after several years and he could not be compelled to pay.
The names and other identifying data including the ages of the parties were withheld for legal reasons.
Under German law, a malpractice suit against the doctor would be unlikely to succeed, the court spokeswoman said.
A German woman has been stripped of child support payments from her ex husband because of a sperm donor mix-up.
The doctor at the fertility clinic she used to help her conceive had apparently mixed up her husband's sperm with that of another donor.
The mistake was only discovered when the boy needed a blood test, and doctors said it was not possible the man could be his natural father.
Munich district court heard how the man had lovingly cared for the boy for years before the mistake was discovered.
The court ruled that the man must not pay for the child's maintenance, now that he and the mother have divorced.
"It's a most unusual case," said court spokeswoman Ingrid Kaps, adding that the man had not actually said he would stop supporting the boy, only that he wanted a declaration of his legal position.
The mother remains the sole guardian of the boy, since it would be nearly impossible to find the 'true' father after several years and he could not be compelled to pay.
The names and other identifying data including the ages of the parties were withheld for legal reasons.
Under German law, a malpractice suit against the doctor would be unlikely to succeed, the court spokeswoman said.