Health Min. reviews possible sperm donor genetic mismatch at Assuta Medical Center, Tel Aviv

The ministry is examining a private genetic test conducted abroad after a patient raised questions about whether the sperm donor used to conceive her child was genetically matched.Follow us on GoogleView of the Assuta medical center in Ramat haHayal, Tel Aviv. June 17, 2025.(photo credit: MOSHE SHAI/FLASH90)ByAVIHAI CHIIMAUGUST 17, 2026 22:03Updated: AUGUST 17, 2026 22:19A genetic test conducted privately at a laboratory abroad has raised concerns that the sperm donor whose donation was used to conceive a woman's children may not be a genetic match, the Health Ministry announced on Monday.The ministry began reviewing the case after receiving a report from Assuta Medical Center in Tel Aviv regarding the test.The review includes an examination of the test itself and the laboratory where it was conducted. Professionals are also reviewing the case in coordination with Assuta Medical Center.Assuta pledges to conduct thorough investigation into incident in coordination with Health MinistryAssuta said it had recently received an inquiry from the patient raising questions about the origin of the sperm donation."A short time ago, we received an inquiry from a patient who raised doubts regarding the source of the sperm donation she had selected and from which her child was born," Assuta said in a statement.View of Assuta Hospital, Ramat haHayal, Tel Aviv. May 20, 2023. (credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI/FLASH90)"Upon receiving the inquiry, Assuta immediately reported the matter to the Health Ministry, as is standard practice, and opened an in-depth investigation into the case."Further testing will be required before any conclusions can be reached, the statement added."At this early stage, it is not yet possible to reach conclusions, and additional tests are required. Assuta is in direct contact with the patient and will conduct the review process transparently and in full coordination with the Health Ministry," Assuta added.Health Ministry revokes IVF licenses over embryo mix-upAssuta Medical Centers' fertility clinics have come under close scrutiny in recent years, after a 2022 incident in which a woman who became pregnant with the help of fertility treatments at Assuta Hospital in Rishon Lezion discovered that the fetus she was carrying was neither genetically related to her nor her husband.After years of medical turmoil and legal proceedings, the courts ruled that the child - Sophia, who was a toddler by the time of the court's ruling in March 2025 - would stay with her birth parents, not her biological parents. This ruling was the result of an appeal following a lower court ruling that Sophia should be transferred to her genetic parents.Months later, in October 2025, the Health Ministry revoked the licenses of two senior staff members at Assuta Medical Center in Rishon Lezion because of the mistaken embryo transfer that resulted in the birth of baby Sophia.In 2023, another couple came forward claiming that Assuta Medical Center offered them hush money after they found out that the child they conceived through IVF has no genetic link to the father.Follow us on Google