In the Netherlands, a former gynecologist has become the biological father of dozens of children.

A gynecologist from the Dutch city of Arnhem secretly used his own sperm to conceive at least 16 children through artificial insemination. This was announced on March 9 on the official website of the Rijnstate hospital after an independent investigation, which began after the confession of a former employee.

In 2025, a commission led by Dr. Jan Kremer launched an investigation to assess how Rijnstate handled past errors in the sperm bank. In particular, attention was paid to Dr. Schmutziger, who in the 1970s and 1980s used his own genetic material in artificial insemination without the knowledge of his parents.

So far, 16 donor children have been identified. It is noted that the doctor is a carrier of a hereditary disease. The doctor explained that he used his own sperm in cases where the donor did not show up, which in those years was considered acceptable due to working with "fresh" material. Until the 1990s, there were no special laws on fertility procedures in the Netherlands, there were only general professional rules for doctors."We consider the actions of the doctor — even taking into account the current situation — unacceptable. There is no doubt that the doctor's use of the patient's own sperm during infertility treatment violates these rules of conduct. This invades the patient's privacy more than necessary," said Rijnstate director Hans Schoo.Artur Bogatyrev, a urologist and andrologist at the SM Clinic Center for Reproductive Health, said on February 18 that the full functioning of the male reproductive system largely depends on sufficient intake of vitamins and trace elements. So, first of all, the specialist identified vitamin C. According to him, it is a strong antioxidant that protects cells from the damaging effects of free radicals.