Two Vancouver families are suing a US sperm bank and a Vancouver based fertility centre following reports of misidentification of sperm donor who was described as a genius but was a convicted felon diagnosed with mental health illness.
The two companies involved- Xytex Corporation, based in Atlanta and Genesis Fertility Centre, based in Vancouver, are facing a lawsuit in the BC Supreme Court filed by two anonymous Vancouver families identified by only their initials.
On Xytex’s website, the donor, James Christian Aggeles, was described to have an impressive health and academic history including an IQ of 160, a bachelor’s and a master’s degree and was said to be working on a PhD in neuroscience engineering. Referred to as "Donor 9263" on the wesbite, Aggeles reportedly helped conceive 36 children in Canada, the US and the UK.
Following successive sperm donations to several couples based on false characteristics, the disclosure of Aggeles’ identify came out in the open through an accidental email sent by Xytex to one of the donors. Internet research revealed the donor’s history encompassing diagnosis of schizophrenia, narcissistic personality disorder, a drug-induced psychotic disorder and significant grandiose delusions.
Xytex’s failure to correctly record Aggeles’ physical, mental and academic history, has been put under serious emphasis. "Xytex had a commercial motive to sell Aggeles's sperm, and it pursued that motive by promoting and selling the sperm of Donor #9623 irrespective of whether or not he was a suitable sperm donor," the lawsuit states, as per Postmedia.
Medical Director at Genesis, Dr. Sonya Kashyap, who was not on the staff at the time of the incidence in 2007 has declined to comment.
None of the allegations have been proven yet.
