IVF staff accused of misleading UK parents about donors at northern Cyprus clinics
At least 30 families, mostly British, suspect they were misled by IVF clinics in northern Cyprus regarding the use of selected sperm and egg donors. The investigation highlights the risks of seeking fertility treatment in loosely regulated territories.
Why it matters
Exposes significant ethical and safety failures in the international fertility industry and the dangers of medical tourism in unregulated jurisdictions.
Image caption, Dr Sevket Alpturk (l), Dr Firdevs Uguz Tip (c), and patient co-ordinator Julie Hodson (r) worked at Dogus IVF Centre
At least 30 children, most of them British, are feared to have been conceived by IVF treatment in northern Cyprus using the wrong sperm or egg donors.
In each case, the parents suspect they did not get the donors they had selected.
The figure is one of several new findings in a BBC investigation that, earlier this year , uncovered the first seven cases.
All the parents say they carefully selected anonymous donors based on information such as their medical history, appearance, personality, education and hobbies.
However, they have concerns the requested sperm and egg donors may not have been used in their fertility treatments.
Half of the 30 children were born from procedures at one clinic, Dogus IVF Centre.
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