Family Sues Medical Clinic and Doctor…and you’ll never believe why

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When Kelli Rowlette submitted her DNA for testing via Ancestry.com, she was hoping to find out more about her genealogical history but ended up finding so much more.

According to the results, the 36-year-old Rowlette had been conceived via fertility treatments. Something she was completely unaware of. But that was just the beginning of the shocking discovery.

Rowlette and her parents were shocked to find that her real father was, in fact, the fertility doctor who had performed the artificial insemination.

Now, in light of this discovery, Rowlette, and her now divorced parents, Sally Ashby and Howard Fowler, are suing the retired Dr. Gerald Mortimer and his former employer for $10 million.

The lawsuit was filed in Idaho last week, accusing both Mortimer and Obstetrics and Gynecology Associates of Idaho Falls of fraud, battery, medical negligence and negligent infliction of emotional distress in addition to breach of contract.

Fowler and Ashby visited the clinic in 1979 for help conceiving a child. After they had both been examined, Mortimer diagnosed Fowler is a low sperm count and Ashby with something referred to as a tipped uterus (when the uterus is uncharacteristically pointed toward the spine).

Mortimer’s solution was a procedure that involved artificial insemination of a mix containing 85% mix of Fowler’s semen along with 15% from a donor. Ashby and Fowler agreed to go ahead with the procedure under the conditions that the donor have similar characteristics to Fowler himself (dark hair, blue eyes, over 6’ tall). During the summer of 1980, the couple went through this procedure nine times but said throughout the process that they were completely unaware that Dr. Mortimer (who did not match Fowler’s profile) had in fact provided the donor sperm himself. That information only came to light nearly four decades later when Rowlette received her results from Ancestry.com.

When Rowlette first received her results and saw Mortimer listed as a likely parental match, she assumed the findings were incorrect, but, when she informed her parents who, of course, remembered the doctor they were devastated.

The findings were then further confirmed this past October when Rowlette discovered Mortimer’s signature on her birth certificate.

Thus far, neither Mortimer or the clinic have commented on the allegations.

11 thoughts on “Family Sues Medical Clinic and Doctor…and you’ll never believe why

  • March 4, 2019 at 7:01 am
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    They knew there was a 15% chance the donor sperm could fertilize the egg. Why does it matter who it came from? Would you rather have a father with a high IQ or a low IQ from any random donor?

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  • August 10, 2018 at 11:03 am
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    It’s kind of disgusting even. I get some pervy vibes from this doctor dude.

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  • July 28, 2018 at 10:48 am
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    That’s…quite a lot to take. Wow, I hope she’s all right now.

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  • July 15, 2018 at 12:32 pm
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    Man…to find out your dad is the doctor that you were the inseminated by…can’t be worst than that. I doubt she can sleep well to this day.

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  • June 24, 2018 at 1:31 pm
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    It’s kind of disgusting to know that you carried and raised a child that really belongs to your doctor.

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  • April 20, 2018 at 8:24 pm
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    This makes me even more curious to try out ancestry.com for myself.

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  • April 7, 2018 at 5:55 pm
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    Is it wrong that I’m laughing so hard? Just…wow, getting a result like this when you just wanted to find out if you’re more German or English.

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  • April 6, 2018 at 10:55 am
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    I hope this doctor lost his license! I bet he didn’t think back when he did this that they would ever even find out. Wonder if he has other babies out there too??

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    • August 27, 2018 at 10:06 am
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      Thats my thought! How many other kids does he have out there?

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  • April 5, 2018 at 4:32 pm
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    Wowwww…I would be so upset. This is such a sad instance for everyone, can you imagine finding out that your dad isn’t your dad that late in life? Also…who would agree to let their sperm be mixed with a donor? Why not just use a donor? Seems crazy. I hope they win.

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  • April 10, 2018 at 3:04 am
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    what is this Jane the Virgin ? LOL

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