Dutch Doctor At Centre Of IVF Scandal Is Father To At Least 49 Children

A Dutch doctor at the centre of an IVF scandal fathered at least 49 children, DNA tests have shown.

Jan Karbaat, who died in 2017, used his own sperm instead of sperm from a chosen donor as his clinic in Rotterdam.

Defence for Children, an organisation representing parents and children born through his now-closed clinic, said DNA tests conducted yesterday confirmed 49 children in the case are direct descendants of Karbaat.

'The results confirm serious suspicions that Karbaat used his own sperm at his clinic,' Defence for Children added.

The controversial case became public after a Dutch court ruled in February that the results of Karbaat's DNA test should be made available to parents and children to conduct their own comparisons.

Before his death, aged 89, Karbaat reportedly admitted to having fathered about 60 children in his time at the discredited clinic which closed in 2009 amid reports of irregularities.

Karbaat later also admitted to mixing sperm from various donors and issuing fraudulent donor documentation, the Dutch daily newspaper NRC reported.

The group of suspected 'Karbaat children' dragged his family to court to force them to release Karbaat's DNA profile, which was kept locked in a safe.

The Karbaat family's lawyers had argued that their clients' right to privacy had to be respected.

'However, with the judges agreeing to the paternity test, the judge placed the children's rights above those of Karbaat and his family,' Defence for Children advisor Iara de Witte said.