Overview
- A BBC-led consortium of 14 public broadcasters traced the donor to Denmark’s European Sperm Bank and to 67 clinics that used his samples over roughly 17 years.
- Clinicians report that among children identified and tested so far, dozens carry the TP53 mutation, at least ten have developed tumours, and some have died.
- The sperm bank says it halted the donor once identified, has informed families, and contacted Danish and Belgian authorities after acknowledging excessive use in some countries.
- National caps were exceeded in Belgium, where 53 children were born to 38 women despite a six-family limit, while UK authorities alerted a very small number of patients who traveled to Denmark for treatment.
- Experts say the likely mosaic mutation—estimated in about 20% of the donor’s sperm—evaded standard screening, and professional bodies urge better traceability even as they warn stricter testing and lower caps would shrink donor supply.