A woman is suing a reproductive specialist in the US after a DNA test revealed he was her biological father.
Kelli Rowlette, 36, has taken legal action against now-retired Dr Gerald E. Mortimer, claiming in court papers he used his own sperm to impregnate her mother in the 1980s.
The decades-long secret only came to light when Ms Rowlette sent a DNA test to the popular genealogy website Ancestry.com in July. The results revealed Dr Mortimer was a DNA match.
At the time, she didn't know her parents had sought fertility treatment, and initially dismissed the test results as a mistake.
Ms Rowland told her mother, Sally Ashby, about the unexpected DNA result.
Ms Ashby recognised the name and contacted her now ex-partner, Howard Fowler. In the early 1980s, the couple were having problems conceiving and went to Dr Mortimer for help.
According to the lawsuit, Dr Mortimer told the then-couple he would use a sample made up of sperm from Mr Howard and a donor with similar features to Mr Howard. He allegedly didn't say he would use his own sperm.
"Dr Mortimer fraudulently and knowingly concealed his use of his own genetic material in the procedure," the legal complaint says.
"Dr Mortimer knew Kelli Rowlette was his biological daughter but did not disclose this."
Doctor cried when family moved away
The Washington state family is suing Dr Mortimer and the Obstetrics and Gynecology Associates of Idaho Falls for medical negligence, fraud, battery, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and breach of contract.
According to the lawsuit, Dr Mortimer delivered Ms Rowlette and continued to treat the family for several years, until they decided to move to Washington.
"Dr Mortimer cried when Ms Ashby informed him they were moving," the lawsuit alleges.
