Two sisters say a DNA test has upended their lives by revealing that their mother’s fertility doctor may be their biological father, according to a lawsuit filed in North Dakota.
Tasheena Greaves, 41, of North Dakota, and her sister Janae Nelson Raymond, 40, of Utah, believed they were the children of their 87-year-old father Warren Nelson until recent DNA results suggested otherwise. The test indicated they may instead be the biological daughters of Dr. Dennis Lutz, the doctor who treated their 81-year-old mother, Jean Ann Nelson, for fertility issues in the mid-1980s.
Jean Ann sought treatment with Lutz and became pregnant three times through artificial insemination using a mix of an anonymous donor’s sperm and her husband’s. Her first pregnancy ended in miscarriage. Tasheena was born on Valentine’s Day in 1985, and Janae followed in May 1986.
According to the lawsuit, Lutz told Jean Ann that mixing donor sperm with her husband’s would increase her chances of conceiving, and that any child born would most likely be her husband’s biological child. The complaint alleges he then secretly substituted his own genetic material during the insemination procedures without her knowledge or consent.
The complaint states that Lutz’s conduct was not a mistake or a misunderstanding, and that it required deliberate deception, concealment, and abuse of medical authority. It describes the case as arising from one of the most serious breaches of trust that can occur in the physician-patient relationship.
The family’s attorney, Kellen Bubach, said in a statement to the Daily Mail that the case is about patient consent, reproductive autonomy, medical trust, and the right of children to know the truth about their genetic identity and medical history.
Lutz, who served as Gynecology Chair at the University of North Dakota, acknowledged that Jean Ann had not consented to the use of his sperm, but said his procedures aligned with the relevant standard of care and the state of fertility medicine at the time, according to Valley News Live. He also said he did not act with the intent to deceive her.
The University of North Dakota has since removed Lutz from his position as chair and notified him of plans to terminate his employment, Valley News Live reported.
The family is seeking a jury trial and damages of at least $50,000. Lutz has asked the court to dismiss the claim with prejudice.
