In a highly unusual move, a judge ordered to name a sperm donor and banned him from contacting the 15 children he fathered. James MacDougall, 37, did not disclose to the mothers of the children that he has a rare genetic condition.
The sperm donor applied for access to the children, but the judge rejected his request for the children's safety. The judge took unusual steps after discovering that the sperm donor took advantage of the young women's vulnerability and desire to have children. She hoped that naming MacDougall would prevent other women from using his services, per the DailyMail.
Sperm donor advertises his services through social media
As per the family court, MacDougall placed an ad as a potential sperm donor on social media for lesbians who wanted to have babies. Women then hired him, and he was able to father 15 children, ranging from a few months old to four.
The sperm donor also signed agreements stipulating that he did not want to contact his 15 children. Yet, he applied to the Family Court for orders that would allow him to spend time with four of them. The mothers vehemently opposed sharing parental responsibility with him or for him to have contact with the children.
Judge Justice Lieven ruled that the sperm donor showed "fundamental irresponsibility" by not being upfront about his condition. She also noted that it was irresponsible for the women to use MacDougall as a sperm donor without checking his health record. However, she pointed out that the women were desperate to have children, The Guardian reports.
Fragile X syndrome
MacDougall did not disclose that he suffers from Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), a genetic condition. The judge described him as "a complex person" who has been diagnosed with learning difficulties and is on the autistic spectrum.
Fragile X Syndrome, also known as Martin-Bell Syndrome, is an inherited genetic disease passed on from parents to children. It also causes intellectual and developmental disabilities, according to Healthline.
It is a common condition that affects one in 4,000 boys and 8,000 girls. The symptoms are also more notable in boys than in girls. People with FXS are usually associated with various developmental and learning problems. It is a chronic condition, and only a few people with FXS can live independently.
Its other symptoms include stuttering, social anxiety, autism, hyperactivity, seizures, depression, and sleeping difficulties.
In some cases, people with FXS may have physical abnormalities like a large forehead or ears, prominent jaw, elongated face, protruding ears, flexible joints, and flat feet.
