A Danish sperm donor carrying an undetected cancer gene has fathered more children in Greece than initially thought, from among dozens across Europe.
According to the state-run Athens Macedonia News Agency on Thursday, 11 women in Greece conceived through in vitro fertilization with sperm from the unnamed Danish donor, giving birth to a total of 18 children.
The number is higher than initially thought and one of the children has already developed cancer.
Many parents in Greece who used in vitro fertilization are in turmoil after the revelation that 18 children were born in Greece from the donor with the cancerous mutation. The competent authorities have been on the move since yesterday, Wednesday, when the news became known at a pan-European level after a journalistic investigation, while all those involved in this tragic case have been informed.
The last time this specific donor’s sperm was used by a fertility clinic in Greece was in 2017, according to the news agency, citing the National Authority of Assisted Reproduction, which has contacted the families involved.
The TP53 gene mutation was detected in 2020 by a Greek doctor specializing in childhood cancer in three siblings, all conceived through in vitro fertilization at Greek clinics using sperm from the specific donor. The same doctor identified a fourth child in Greece in 2023.
According to the BBC, one of 14 public service broadcasters who investigated the case, the anonymous donor’s sperm was used for around 17 years, starting in 2005, by 67 fertility clinics in 14 countries. He had passed all the required screening tests.
He is believed to have fathered at least 197 children.
Greek Health Ministry
Speaking to media on Thursday, Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis said that 18 children have been born in the country from the specific donor, while the limit for the use of sperm according to the legislation does not appear to have been exceeded.
According to Greek legislation, donor sperm cannot be used in more than 12 families in order to limit the possibilities of incest.
The health minister noted that all the clinics, which are 7 in total, in which the sperm of the specific Danish donor was used, have been informed.
He also clarified that instructions have been given to the parents while the children have been sent for tests to determine whether they carry the suspected gene that is likely to cause cancer.
“We have given an order through the Authority (ed.: Medically Assisted Reproduction) to carry out relevant tests so that parents know whether or not their children have this gene and so that there is no unnecessary concern,” the Health Minister reportedly stressed.
