Search form

menu menu

Sperm donors data leaked: Inquiry at Brussels hospital

05:22 15/10/2015

UZ Brussel, the hospital of the Free University of Brussels (VUB), is carrying out an investigation into the possible leak of the names of sperm donors from its Centre for Reproductive Medicine (CRG).

The investigation was launched after the service received an anonymous email alleging staff in the centre had revealed the names of donors to friends and acquaintances.

“We are taking this seriously, but it does appear as if this might be a case of a settling of scores between former partners,” said a spokesperson for the hospital. The email was copied to various media, including news agency Belga.

According to the allegation, the problem lay at the centre’s reception desk, where donors arrive to deliver their samples.

Staff at the desk have access to medical files so they can register samples. According to initial findings, a split between one member of staff and her partner led him to threaten to reveal the leaking of details.

“We will take a couple of days to look into this and that,” the spokesperson said. “If the story checks out, we will take the necessary measures against the member of staff. If not, we will most likely be filing a complaint against the anonymous mailer.”

The CRG is a world-recognised centre for fertility treatment set up in 1983 by Professors Paul Devroey and André Van Stierteghem, now under the leadership of Professor Herman Tournaye.

In its first 25 years the centre helped infertile couples to give birth to more than 15,000 babies, with couples coming from across the world to be treated in Brussels.

Photo courtesy Commune de Jette

Written by Alan Hope