Deceptive Sperm Donor Called Out By Judge
A court in the U.K. has named the sperm donor who advertised his services to lesbians on social media without informing them he had a genetic condition.
James MacDougall, 37, fathered fifteen children while being fully aware that he has fragile-X syndrome.
The genetic disorder causes developmental delays, learning disabilities, and social and behavior problems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Children with the condition may also have an intellectual disability.
MacDougall’s identity and actions were revealed in family court Monday. MacDougall had also tried to gain access to four of the children he fathered.
He previously signed paperwork stating that it was not his desire to contact some of the children that he had fathered.
Three of the mothers opposed MacDougall’s attempts to have a relationship with their children, who are between three years old to a few months old.
On Monday, Judge Nathalie Lieven ruled against MacDougall, denying him parental responsibility.
Lieven said she named MacDougall to make other women aware of what he’s done and stop them from using him as a sperm donor.
The judge said, “ a benefit in him being named is the hope that women will look him up on the internet and see this judgment.”
“The usual approach of anonymity in the family courts should not be used as a way for parents to behave in an unacceptable manner and then hide behind the cloak of anonymity,” she said.
Court proceedings revealed that MacDougall elected to be a sperm donor even though he did not qualify to go through a regular clinic due to his condition.
In some legal agreements, MacDougall does list his condition, but without explaining it.
“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,” Lieven said in her ruling. “This failure to take responsibility for his own condition and to have any apparent concern for the long-term impact both on the mothers and potentially the children is a factor in concluding that [he] should not be given parental responsibility for the children.”
MacDougall was arrested after attacking one of the mothers whose daughter has developmental delays.
In another court, MacDougall was granted regular visits with one of the children he fathered, however, the child was returned from visiting with MacDougall with non-accidental bruises, Lieven said. The judge postponed the case pending a social services report.
Additionally, Lieven ruled that MacDougall may not petition the court again for three years, saying it would be a traumatic experience for the mothers.