Sperm Donor Fathered 15 Kids Without Revealing His Incurable Genetic Disorder

A man advertised himself as a potential sperm donor despite having an incurable, inheritable condition, a court in the United Kingdom has heard.

James MacDougall, 37, has Fragile-X syndrome, a genetic condition that causes a range of developmental problems, including learning difficulties and cognitive impairment, The Guardian reported.

Despite his condition, MacDougall placed an advertisement on a social media page for lesbians seeking sperm donors and ended up fathering 15 children.

Doctors have reportedly shown concern for one of the children, who was still not verbal at age three and "behaviorally challenging."

In a hearing at Derby Crown Court last week, presiding judge Justice Lieven publicly named MacDougall to protect other people planning to use private sperm donors, a report by the BBC said.

MacDougall, described by Lieven as a "complex person" previously diagnosed as having learning difficulties and being on the autistic syndrome, allegedly disclosed his condition to the women in a three-page document.

But the document was written in a highly legalistic language that would have been "difficult to read even for a lawyer," Lieven noted.

"Although the agreement does refer to Fragile-X, [MacDougall] took no steps to explain the condition to [the women] and no steps to ensure they understood. [He] took advantage of these young women’s vulnerability and their strong desire to have children," the magistrate said.

While MacDougall showed "fundamental irresponsibility" for not being upfront about his condition, the mothers, who were all in their 20s when they became pregnant, were also irresponsible for having him as a sperm donor without making proper inquiries about his health record, Lieven added.

The judge has since refused MacDougall's application to have parental responsibility and contact with four of his children, whose mothers opposed him having anything to do with the kids.

"I equally have no confidence in him fully explaining to any woman the true implications of his fragile-X syndrome. There is, therefore, a very specific benefit in him being named in the hope that women will look him up on the internet and see this judgment," Lieven said.

Children's services in Sheffield are currently investigating allegations that MacDougall caused bruises to one of his children, the court heard.

MacDougall got arrested in June 2020 for attacking one of the mothers, the New York Post reported. He allegedly made sexual comments toward the victim in the past.