Boston IVF co-founder and former Harvard Medical School professor, Dr. Merle Berger, is facing a lawsuit from a former patient who claims he secretly impregnated her with his own sperm over 40 years ago. Maine resident Sarah Depoian visited Dr. Berger in 1980 seeking fertility services and alleges that he deceived her, promising to use the sperm of a medical resident who resembled her husband. However, according to the lawsuit, Berger used his own sperm without Depoian's knowledge or consent.

Depoian's daughter, Carolyn Bester, was born in January 1981. The discovery was made when Bester purchased DNA kits from popular genealogy services Ancestry.com and 23andMe earlier this year. The test results revealed a familial connection to Berger's granddaughter and his second cousin, leading Bester to the shocking revelation that Dr. Berger was her biological father.

In response to the allegations, Depoian's lawyer stated that she had contacted Berger, who did not deny that she had consented solely to an insemination using anonymous sperm. Depoian expressed deep betrayal, stating, "We fully trusted Dr. Berger. He was a medical professional, and it's hard to imagine not trusting your own doctor. We never dreamt he would abuse his position of trust and perpetrate this extreme violation."

Dr. Merle Berger retired in 2020, as confirmed by Boston IVF's social media. His lawyer released a statement defending him, emphasizing his pioneering contributions to the fertility field and his reputation for empathy towards his patients. The statement also highlighted that the alleged events occurred over four decades ago, during a time when artificial insemination techniques were vastly different from modern-day fertility treatments.

The lawsuit, which has been ongoing for six months, asserts that the allegations have no legal or factual merit and will be disproven in court. As the case unfolds, it will shed light on the practices of early artificial insemination and the ethical considerations surrounding the misuse of trust and deception within the medical field.

The legal proceedings will determine the legitimacy of the claims made against Dr. Merle Berger and address the long-lasting impact on Sarah Depoian, Carolyn Bester, and their family.