Dutch judges have ordered a man who allegedly fathered more than 550 children through sperm donations to stop donating. This scandal has shocked the Netherlands for many reasons.
The man, identified in Dutch media as Jonathan Jacob Meijer, 41, was taken to court by a foundation that protects the rights of children born through sperm donation and by the mother of one of the children he allegedly gave birth to. child through his sperm.
Dutch clinic guidelines say a donor must not father more than 25 children in 12 families, but judges said the man had helped father 550-600 children since he began donating sperm in 2007.
If he continues to donate sperm, he will face a fine of €100,000 for each offence, as well as additional fines, the court ordered.
"The donor deliberately misinformed the prospective parents about the number of children born with his sperm," the court in The Hague said. "All these parents are now faced with the fact that the children in their family are part of a large kinship network, with hundreds of half-siblings, whom they did not choose."
The court argued that this case could cause negative psychosocial consequences for children, including psychological problems around identity and fear of incest.
