(KNOX) – The University of North Dakota has removed the chair of its School of Medicine & Health Sciences’ obstetrics and gynecology department. Dr. Dennis J. Lutz was removed as of Tuesday, July 28, and the university is starting the process to fire him. He has been accused of fertility fraud, when he allegedly used his own sperm to inseminate a patient and father that woman’s children.
A lawsuit was filed in Ward County District Court on Monday, July 27. A woman named Jean Ann Nelson was receiving treatment from Lutz in the 1980’s in Minot. Lutz is accused of telling her that mixing donor sperm with her husband’s would increase her chances of having a child from her husband’s genetic material. The lawsuit says Lutz used his own sperm instead and he hid that information from Nelson.
In that filing, he acknowledged the patient did not consent to the use of his specifically identified genetic material and admitted he intentionally concealed the true source of the sperm used in the procedures. However, he denied wrongdoing overall, arguing the patient agreed to anonymous donor sperm and to never seek the donor’s identity.
Three women are suing Lutz. Jean Ann Nelson of Mandan, North Dakota, Tasheena Greaves of Crosby, North Dakota, and Janae Nelson Raymond of Salt Lake County, Utah. The lawsuit also says that DNA testing shows that Lutz is the biological father of both Greaves and Nelson Raymond.
Lutz is accused in the lawsuit of fraud, medical battery, and both intentionally inflicting emotional distress and negligence. Each plaintiff is seeing more than $50,000 in damages.
Lutz is asking the court to dismiss the case. He filed a formal response to the lawsuit. He admits that the patient did not consent to using his genetic material and he says he intentionally hid whose sperm was actually used. Although, he denies any wrongdoing, and says Nelson agreed to an anonymous sperm donor and to never find out who the sperm donor was.
The case is currently pending in Ward County District Court.
FOLLOW US FOR INSTANT UPDATES!
