During the 1991 insemination process that led in the birth of their daughter, a couple claims that a fertility specialist took sperm from a stranger.
According to a complaint filed Wednesday, Feb. 2, Jeanine and John “Mike” Harvey claimed that a DNA test revealed that their daughter Jessica was not biologically connected to her father.
Dr. Nicholas Spirtos and Summa Health System have been accused of malpractice, carelessness, and fraud by the Harveys, who claim they failed to “properly collect” and “safeguard” John’s genetic material.
“About 30 years ago, my husband and I went to see a fertility doctor for help seeking a baby,” Jeanine stated during a virtual press conference.
“Our objective was quite clear. We wanted a child who was linked to both of us genetically. Mike’s genetic materials were to be used in the in vitro fertilization treatment, so I went ahead with it. Dr. Spirtos utilized a stranger’s sperm without our knowing.”
The family said it learned of the botched procedure when they bought Jessica a DNA test ahead of her trip to Europe in 2020.
Jessica expected to detect evidence of her father’s Italian ancestry on her test, but instead discovered that she was of Irish, English, German, Welsh, and French ancestry.
According to Jessica Harvey Galloway, “There are no words to describe what I’ve gone through, nor what my parents have gone through. I’m still stunned, and I’m sure I’ll be for the rest of my life.”
Jessica stated she tracked down her biological father using ancestry.com and genealogists hired by her lawyer, and that he supplied sperm to Dr. Nicholas Spirtos on the same day the Harveys were in his office.
According to its website, Spirtos is still associated with the Akron healthcare provider.
Summa Health claimed it was “taking this issue seriously” in a message to local media outlets.
“We have not visited with the family or undertaken our own tests at this time. Given the scant information we have and the length of time that has elapsed, we continue to hope that the family’s attorneys will collaborate with us to make the next step a priority.” Mike Bernstein is a writer who lives in New York City