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Doctor who used his sperm to impregnate women agrees to pay millions



A Canadian fertility doctor accused of impregnating women with the wrong sperm, including using his own, has agreed to a proposed $10.7 million settlement.  

The potential settlement in a yearslong, class action lawsuit involving hundreds of victims was announced Wednesday against former physician Norman Barwin, whose medical license was revoked in 2019.  

The class-action lawsuit was started in 2016 by Davina Dixon, Daniel Dixon and Rebecca Dixon. Davina and Daniel in 1989 sought medical services from Barwin, and he performed an artificial insemination procedure for the parents.  

However, in 2016 the family discovered through a DNA test that Barwin is Rebecca’s biological father, according to a statement issued Wednesday from a law firm representing victims in the case. 

The statement claims that 100 children of patients seen by Barwin do not possess the DNA of their “intended biological father,” including 17 who are the biological children of Barwin himself and 83 who do not know the identity of their biological father.  

‘Beyond reprehensible’: Fertility doctor who used his own sperm to impregnate 11 women loses license

Allegations against Barwin date back to the 1970s. They involve patients seen at the Ottawa General Hospital and another area clinic.  

The proposed settlement, which must formally be approved by a court in Canada in November, will grant payments to families and individuals who received the wrong sperm sample at the time of their artificial inseminations. It also provides funds for individuals whose semen was used by Barwin with the incorrect family or mother.  

Funds from the settlement will also operate a DNA database for victims, including patients who gave Barwin semen and individuals seeking to confirm the identity of their biological father.  

Barwin has denied wrongdoing in the allegations. The proposed settlement notes that he “continues to deny all of the Plaintiffs’ claims” and has denied “liability of any kind whatsoever.”  

The document states that Barwin agreed to the settlement “in order to avoid the time, risk and expense of continuing with the litigation.”  



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