A woman in Florida was awarded millions after her doctor used his own sperm to impregnate her during an artificial insemination procedure.
After going through deliberation on Tuesday, this Wednesday, a federal court jury decided to award Cheryl Rousseau in Florida $5.25 million after her doctor, Dr. John Coates III, used his own sperm to impregnate her during in an artificial insemination procedure back in 1977, CBS News reports.
According to the complaint, Rousseau wanted a child with her husband, who had undergone a non-reversible vasectomy. Instead of using donor sperm during the artificial insemination process, Coates injected his own genetic material, the news outlet reports.
Rousseau and her family learned about the doctor’s doings after their now-grown daughter sought information about her biological father through DNA testing. That’s when she discovered Coates was her father, the lawsuit states. The same allegedly happened to another woman from Colorado who also says Coates used his own sperm to impregnate her. That case is still ongoing.
The Vermont Medical Practice Board has since revoked Coates’ medical license. Coates, who is now retired, practiced obstetrics and gynecology in the central Vermont area, CBS News reports. Rousseau was awarded $250,000 in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages from Coates.
