The Greek Connection of the Cancer-Linked Sperm Donor

An international investigation by the BBC and 13 other European public broadcasters has brought to light a major health crisis involving a Danish sperm donor linked to a highly aggressive, cancer-predisposing genetic mutation.

The focus in Greece is intense, as the donor’s sperm was distributed to multiple clinics, directly affecting at least four children.

The scale of the crisis following the cancer-linked sperm donor in Greece

The investigation has revealed the following concerning details specific to Greece:

• Four children in Greece have been confirmed to carry the cancer-linked mutation.
• Three of these children, all from the same family, were conceived via IVF using the same donor’s sperm.
• One of these three children has already developed cancer.
• A fourth child, conceived using the same donor’s sperm, was identified with the mutation in 2023.
• At least seven different IVF clinics across Greece received and utilized sperm from this donor.

This widespread distribution raises serious questions about the screening procedures in place at the time.

The initial detection was made in November 2020 by a Greek doctor specializing in childhood cancer, which initiated the alarm and subsequent tracing of the donor.

Regulatory fallout and accountability

This case exposes critical vulnerabilities in the regulation and oversight of sperm donation and Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) in Greece and across the EU:

Donor Screening Failures: The Danish donor is reported to have fathered at least 197 children across Europe. This indicates a massive failure in the initial genetic screening process conducted by the sperm bank, as a mutation of this gravity should have been detected before the donor was accepted.

Tracking and Tracing: The need to retrospectively identify and notify families who used this donor’s sperm highlights a crucial gap in cross-border tracking mechanisms. While there are EU directives on tissue and cell donation, the enforcement and centralized tracking of donor materials across member states can be inconsistent.

National Oversight: The fact that seven Greek clinics used the material means that Greece’s National Authority of Assisted Reproduction (EAEA) may come under scrutiny regarding the standards for accepting foreign donor material and ensuring clinics comply with genetic screening protocols.

The investigation will likely lead to calls for stricter, mandatory, and standardized genetic testing protocols for all sperm and egg donors across Europe to prevent similar devastating public health incidents.

Related: Three-Parent Baby Boy Born in Greece in Medical Breakthrough