A Dutch fertility doctor, Jan Karbaat, has been revealed to have secretly fathered at least 60 children by using his own sperm to inseminate patients without their knowledge or consent. The scandal came to light after one of his offspring, Joey Hoofdman, spent years searching for his biological father.
Joey, now 33, always felt different from his siblings due to his appearance and personality. His parents had undergone fertility treatment, but Joey suspected the truth after his father died in 2012. His mental health deteriorated, and he eventually confronted his mother in 2017, who described seeing vials labelled with his father's name at the clinic.
Searching online, Joey found complaints about missing paperwork and lost vials at Karbaat's clinic, which was shut down by the government in 2009. When he saw a photo of Karbaat, he recognised the resemblance immediately. He attempted to confront the doctor, but was told he was too ill; Karbaat died a week later.
Joey joined a Facebook group for others conceived at the clinic and took a DNA test, which confirmed Karbaat was his biological father. The group now has over 60 members who have discovered they are Karbaat's children, with many more likely. The case has raised serious ethical questions about fertility treatment and patient consent.
