{
  "id": 1639417,
  "title": "IVF staff accused of misleading UK parents about sperm and egg donors in northern Cyprus",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/ivf-staff-accused-of-misleading-uk-parents-about-sperm-and-egg-donors",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-18T05:00:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC News",
    "slug": "bbc-news",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c75gv9xnr3po?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "At least 30 children in northern Cyprus, most of them British, are believed to have been conceived through IVF using incorrect sperm or egg donors, according to a BBC investigation. Parents have expressed concerns that the donors they selected may not have been used in their fertility treatments. Half of the 30 children were born at the Dogus IVF Centre, with Dr Firdevs Uguz Tip, Dr Sevket Alpturk, and patient co-ordinator Julie Hodson involved in their care. Rachel, a mother and one of the parents, reported that she received the wrong sperm donor from the clinic. The BBC also discovered that Cryos International, the world's largest sperm bank, has blacklisted the Dogus clinic since 2016. Northern Cyprus, a territory with no legal recognition by the EU, is known for its loosely regulated clinics that promise low prices, high success rates, and a wide choice of donors. The investigation began with the revelation of seven cases, but has since expanded to include more parents with similar concerns.",
  "summary": "Multiple children are feared to have been conceived using sperm and egg donors which were not the ones selected by the parents.",
  "key_points": [
    "At least 30 British children in northern Cyprus conceived with incorrect IVF donors",
    "Dogus IVF Centre and three doctors involved in care of affected children",
    "Cryos International blacklisted Dogus clinic since 2016"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "BBC World",
        "title": "IVF staff accused of misleading UK parents about sperm and egg donors in northern Cyprus",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/ivf-staff-accused-of-misleading-uk-parents-about-sperm-and-egg-donors-1641499",
        "published": "2026-08-18T05:00:04.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Capital FM Kenya",
        "title": "IVF staff accused of misleading UK parents about sperm and egg donors in northern Cyprus",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/ivf-staff-accused-of-misleading-uk-parents-about-sperm-and-egg-donors-1663174",
        "published": "2026-08-18T07:14:55.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}