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Dr. Norman Barwin is the biological father of at least 11 children whose parents went to him for fertility treatment, according to lawyers who are working on a class-action lawsuit against the high-profile Ottawa fertility doctor.
Lawyers Peter Cronyn and Frances Shapiro Munn, of Nelligan O’Brien Payne LLP, said Thursday they have been in contact with more than 150 people who have allegedly been “adversely affected” by Barwin’s fertility practice as far back as 1978. They include 11 people who, according to DNA testing, are the physician’s biological children, the lawyers said.
“In some cases, the intention was for Dr. Barwin to use the sperm of the male of the couple. In others, a specific anonymous sperm donor had been selected. Instead, it turns out that Dr. Barwin himself is the biological father,” Cronyn and Shapiro Munn said in a release.
In addition, the lawyers said they have become aware of more than 50 people whose parents received fertility treatment from Barwin and whose biological fathers are unknown. Sixteen of them were to be conceived using their father’s sperm, but are not a biological match to their father. The lawyers said an additional 35 were to be conceived using anonymous donor sperm and may not be a biological match with the intended donor. Their biological fathers are also unknown.
In addition, the lawyers said they have been contacted by numerous men who are concerned about what happened with sperm they stored with Barwin’s clinic. They are worried their sperm may have been used to inseminate a child they are not aware of.
None of the allegations has been proven in court.
The lawyers said they are amending the statement of claim previously filed to include the new information. Once it is certified as a class action, they say, the next step will be to establish a process for claims to be adjudicated and resolved.
As part of the resolution process, they said, they are working on a way to help people who were conceived with unknown sperm to find out who their biological fathers are and get in touch with half-siblings. They said they want to be sure those conceived with Barwin’s sperm can collect health information they may need.
Among them is Kat Palmer, 26, whose parents sought treatment from Barwin. He acknowledged in 2015 that he was her biological father based on a paternity test.
During his career, the South African-born gynaecologist and medical professor was popular and helped thousands of patients conceive children. He was appointed to the Order of Canada in 1997 for having a “profound impact on both the biological and psycho-social aspects of women’s reproductive health.” He resigned from the Order of Canada in 2013.
As far back as 1995, he was sued by former patients for using the wrong sperm. He was found guilty of professional misconduct by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario in 2013.
He was hired in 1973 as director of the Ottawa General Hospital’s high-risk pregnancy unit and co-director of its fertility unit. He worked at the hospital — now known as The Ottawa Hospital’s General campus — until 1984 when he set up a private practice at the Broadview Fertility Clinic.
Barwin’s lawyer Karen Hamway said he had no comment.
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Lawyers Peter Cronyn and Frances Shapiro Munn, of Nelligan O’Brien Payne LLP, said Thursday they have been in contact with more than 150 people who have allegedly been “adversely affected” by Barwin’s fertility practice as far back as 1978. They include 11 people who, according to DNA testing, are the physician’s biological children, the lawyers said.
“In some cases, the intention was for Dr. Barwin to use the sperm of the male of the couple. In others, a specific anonymous sperm donor had been selected. Instead, it turns out that Dr. Barwin himself is the biological father,” Cronyn and Shapiro Munn said in a release.
In addition, the lawyers said they have become aware of more than 50 people whose parents received fertility treatment from Barwin and whose biological fathers are unknown. Sixteen of them were to be conceived using their father’s sperm, but are not a biological match to their father. The lawyers said an additional 35 were to be conceived using anonymous donor sperm and may not be a biological match with the intended donor. Their biological fathers are also unknown.
In addition, the lawyers said they have been contacted by numerous men who are concerned about what happened with sperm they stored with Barwin’s clinic. They are worried their sperm may have been used to inseminate a child they are not aware of.
None of the allegations has been proven in court.
The lawyers said they are amending the statement of claim previously filed to include the new information. Once it is certified as a class action, they say, the next step will be to establish a process for claims to be adjudicated and resolved.
As part of the resolution process, they said, they are working on a way to help people who were conceived with unknown sperm to find out who their biological fathers are and get in touch with half-siblings. They said they want to be sure those conceived with Barwin’s sperm can collect health information they may need.
Among them is Kat Palmer, 26, whose parents sought treatment from Barwin. He acknowledged in 2015 that he was her biological father based on a paternity test.
During his career, the South African-born gynaecologist and medical professor was popular and helped thousands of patients conceive children. He was appointed to the Order of Canada in 1997 for having a “profound impact on both the biological and psycho-social aspects of women’s reproductive health.” He resigned from the Order of Canada in 2013.
As far back as 1995, he was sued by former patients for using the wrong sperm. He was found guilty of professional misconduct by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario in 2013.
He was hired in 1973 as director of the Ottawa General Hospital’s high-risk pregnancy unit and co-director of its fertility unit. He worked at the hospital — now known as The Ottawa Hospital’s General campus — until 1984 when he set up a private practice at the Broadview Fertility Clinic.
Barwin’s lawyer Karen Hamway said he had no comment.
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