Vermont doctor's licence revoked after he used his own sperm on patients

A retired doctor's medical licence has been permanently revoked, after he was accused of using his own sperm in two artificial insemination procedures during the 1970s.

Coates was first sued in 2018, for using his own sperm in a 1977 procedure where a couple agreed to artificial insemination using donor sperm from an unnamed medical student who resembled the husband. A second woman sued Dr Coates in 2021, also accusing him of using his own sperm for her artificial insemination in 1978.

The Vermont Board of Medical Practice revoked Dr John Coates' licence, and indicated that Dr Coates had misinformed its investigative committee. Following the first complaint, the board had asked Dr Coates to undergo genetic testing, which he refused to do. When the board received the complaint from the second patient, he made this statement:

'While I have no present memory of ever having used my own genetic material to artificially inseminate a female patient, genetic testing has confirmed that I was the sperm donor for the pregnancy that resulted in the birth of (the daughter of Patient 1). I have no knowledge of, or reason to suspect the existence of any other occasion where I used my own sperm in the performance of an artificial insemination procedure.'

Jerry O'Neill, the first family's lawyer, said: 'This could not have been done accidentally.'

The first lawsuit had included several charges, including 'medical malpractice, breach of contract, fraud, battery, and a claim under the Vermont Consumer Protection Act (VCPA).' The claim under VCPA has since been dismissed.

Coates' lawyer submitted a letter on his behalf, for the board's panel hearing. It read: 'Dr Coates retired from medical practice in 2008. He is now 80 years old. He is giving up his medical licence permanently. The events that are at issue occurred more than 40 years ago. Dr Coates regrets the circumstances giving rise to the charges.'