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1923

Abstract

er seeing the ad. There is a 92.3% chance that she is a half-sister to the Rousseau's daughter.The mother of the second woman had been told the same thing as the Rousseau’s, that the donor was a medical student that had closely resembled the husband.He testified under oath that he never used his own sperm in any of the insemination procedures.Well, eventually the court ordered him to take a DNA test.The results confirmed that he was the father, with a 99.9% match to the Rousseau’s daughter.He finally admitted the truth.The lawsuit included:<ul><li>medical negligence</li><li>fraud</li><li>battery</li><li>breach of contract</li><li> $250,000 in compensatory damages</li><li>$ 5 million in punitive damages</li></ul>There were other charges involved, but he lied under oath so I hope he also got charged with perjury.When asked by prosecutors why he initially refused to take the DNA test, he said,“I viewed it as a tremendous intrusion of my privacy”Did he really throw the privacy card?The women he victimized also valued their privacy. Both women agreed to an anonymous donor, that their identity would remain anonymous to the donor and vice-versa.A tremendous intrusion of privacy?Like in 1977 when,“Moments before the procedure, Coates went to an office, masturbated, and returned to the exam room, where he used his own sperm to impregnate the woman”, Rousseau’s attorney told the jury.Coates also charged a $75 sperm donation fee, due at the time of insemination.Coates delivered the babies as well.That means that he was delivering his own children, but the mothers had

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no idea.<h2 id="c28d">At least he is no longer able to practice medicine</h2>He retired years ago, but as of February, the <a href="https://www.healthvermont.gov/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/BMP-Actions-CoatesOrder-02022022.pdf">Vermont Board of Medical Practice revoked his license</a>.Either way, he won’t be able to commit this heinous act that some refer to as ‘medical rape’.For their lives being turned upside-down, I would love for them to be “awarded” more than $5.25 million.The daughter of the Rousseau’s initial reason for the DNA test was for her son who encountered a genetic abnormality. She wanted to learn more about her genetics for the sake of her child.The actions of former Dr. Coates have affected the mothers he victimized, their children, and every generation after.No amount of money can take that back, but for the sake of humanity, make the number so big that it scares people from doing this again.Make an example out of him.The way I see it, while money won’t bring back what they lost, they at least deserve enough to live comfortably for a while.What do you think? Was the doctor only trying to give these women what they wanted, to become pregnant? Please let me know if you think this lawsuit was blown out of proportion.Would you have sued for more than$ 5.25 million? Respond and let me know.Before you go… If you liked my story and want to support my writing, <a href="https://medium.com/@nicolewallet/membership">become a Medium member right here</a>. For $5 a month, you’ll have access to unlimited stories and I’ll earn a bit of commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for reading my story and supporting my love of writing.</article></body>

$5.25M Awarded Because Her Doctor Used His Sperm Instead of the Donor’s

That’s just not enough to cover the damage

A young couple trusted a doctor to help them become pregnant. They chose Dr. John Coates III for the procedure, and the sperm donor was a medical student from Vermont.

The procedure was a success. Cheryl Rousseau and her husband Peter became parents in February 1978.

Fast forward and the child, now in her 40s, wanted to find out more about her biological father. She used Ancestry.com and 23andme.com and the results traced back to Dr. Coates.

In October 2018, the Rousseau’s sued Coates for using his sperm during the artificial insemination procedure, without their consent.

Coates denied being the father of the child and refused to take a DNA test.

The lawsuit took several years

The daughter wanted to know if there were any other cases like hers. She placed an ad in The Valley Reporter in Vermont searching for others.

Ad placed in The Valley Reporter courtesy of **Alan J. Keays** via VTDigger.org

The ad slowly gained some attention

The ad mentions the ages could be as old as 58 and as young as 12. Coates could have used his ‘genetic material’ in any or all of the procedures.

Another woman replied after seeing the ad. There is a 92.3% chance that she is a half-sister to the Rousseau's daughter.

The mother of the second woman had been told the same thing as the Rousseau’s, that the donor was a medical student that had closely resembled the husband.

He testified under oath that he never used his own sperm in any of the insemination procedures.

Well, eventually the court ordered him to take a DNA test.

The results confirmed that he was the father, with a 99.9% match to the Rousseau’s daughter.

He finally admitted the truth.

The lawsuit included:

medical negligence
fraud
battery
breach of contract
$250,000 in compensatory damages
$5 million in punitive damages

There were other charges involved, but he lied under oath so I hope he also got charged with perjury.

When asked by prosecutors why he initially refused to take the DNA test, he said,

“I viewed it as a tremendous intrusion of my privacy”

Did he really throw the privacy card?

The women he victimized also valued their privacy. Both women agreed to an anonymous donor, that their identity would remain anonymous to the donor and vice-versa.

A tremendous intrusion of privacy?

Like in 1977 when,

“Moments before the procedure, Coates went to an office, masturbated, and returned to the exam room, where he used his own sperm to impregnate the woman”, Rousseau’s attorney told the jury.

Coates also charged a $75 sperm donation fee, due at the time of insemination.

Coates delivered the babies as well.

That means that he was delivering his own children, but the mothers had no idea.

At least he is no longer able to practice medicine

He retired years ago, but as of February, the Vermont Board of Medical Practice revoked his license.

Either way, he won’t be able to commit this heinous act that some refer to as ‘medical rape’.

For their lives being turned upside-down, I would love for them to be “awarded” more than $5.25 million.

The daughter of the Rousseau’s initial reason for the DNA test was for her son who encountered a genetic abnormality. She wanted to learn more about her genetics for the sake of her child.

The actions of former Dr. Coates have affected the mothers he victimized, their children, and every generation after.

No amount of money can take that back, but for the sake of humanity, make the number so big that it scares people from doing this again.

Make an example out of him.

The way I see it, while money won’t bring back what they lost, they at least deserve enough to live comfortably for a while.

What do you think? Was the doctor only trying to give these women what they wanted, to become pregnant? Please let me know if you think this lawsuit was blown out of proportion.

Would you have sued for more than $5.25 million? Respond and let me know.

Before you go… If you liked my story and want to support my writing, become a Medium member right here. For $5 a month, you’ll have access to unlimited stories and I’ll earn a bit of commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for reading my story and supporting my love of writing.