Oregon Woman Claims Fertility Clinic Inseminated Her Mom with Wrong Man’s Sperm in $17 Million Lawsuit

An Oregon woman says a fertility clinic error led to her being conceived with another man’s sperm, a discovery she made decades later through genetic testing.

Court filings state that the 44-year-old woman, identified as A.P., has joined her biological mother, C.W., and the man who raised her, K.W., in a lawsuit against Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and Providence Health & Services of Oregon. The family is seeking $17 million in damages.

According to the lawsuit, C.W. and K.W. pursued fertility treatment and family planning services at OHSU after a physician referral. During the process, they allege, the clinic mistakenly used sperm belonging to another patient, identified as R.W., instead of K.W.’s. The Oregonian first reported the allegations.

C.W. and K.W. welcomed A.P. in December 1981 and raised her believing she was their biological child. Around the same time, R.W. and his partner also conceived and welcomed a child in November 1981.

A.P. says she did not learn that K.W. was not her biological father until two years ago, when she underwent genetic testing. Additional testing, according to the lawsuit, identified R.W. as her biological father.

The family argues that the error permanently deprived K.W. of biological fatherhood and left him with lasting emotional harm. The complaint further states that C.W. was denied the experience of creating a child with her husband and endured the physical and emotional toll of carrying a pregnancy conceived with another man’s genetic material without her consent. She describes the experience as a severe violation of her autonomy.

The lawsuit also asserts that A.P. is the result of a nonconsensual conception and will live with ongoing confusion and emotional distress. The family alleges that the hospital was aware of the mistake, concealed the use of R.W.’s genetic material, and has refused to acknowledge wrong doing.

The plaintiffs are seeking $17 million in damages. OHSU declined to comment when contacted.