Family sues doctor after DNA test shows adult daughter conceived via IVF isn’t related to her father

An American couple have accused a fertility doctor, Dr. Nicholas Spirtos of using sperm from a stranger during the 1991 insemination procedure that resulted in the birth of their daughter.

According to a lawsuit filed Wednesday, Feb. 2, Jeanine and John “Mike” Harvey said a DNA test showed their daughter Jessica was not biologically related to her father.

The Harveys accused Dr. Spirtos and Summa Health System of malpractice, negligence and fraud, alleging they failed to “properly collect” and “safeguard” John’s genetic material.

Jeanine said during a virtual press conference: “About 30 years ago my husband and I went to see a fertility doctor for help seeking a baby.

“Our goal couldn’t have been clearer. We wanted a child who is genetically related to both of us. I underwent the in vitro fertilization with the understanding that Mike’s genetic materials would be used in this procedure. Without our knowledge, Dr. Spirtos used a stranger’s sperm.”

The family said it learned of the botched procedure when they bought Jessica a DNA test ahead of her trip to Europe in 2020.

Jessica was expecting to see her father’s Italian heritage represented on her test, but instead found that she was of Irish, English, German, Welsh and French descent.

Jessica Harvey Galloway said: “There are no words to express what I have been through; what my parents have been through. I am still in total disbelief and probably always will be.”