UZ Brussel ends partnership with Danish sperm bank following scandal

Brussels university hospital UZ Brussel is ending its collaboration with Danish sperm bank ESB following a scandal in which it emerged that one donor had fathered more than 50 children in Belgium with 39 women, which goes against strict regulations.

The Brussels hospital said it was deeply disappointed by ESB’s closed attitude throughout the ordeal.

Head of reproductive medicine Herman Tournaye said he asked the Danish sperm bank for clarification, but to his surprise, received none.

“They did not want to share any information,” Tournaye said.

UZ Brussel worked with ESB for many years. “As a customer, we always had a good relationship,” said Tournaye.

He wanted to know from the sperm bank why the donor in question was apparently mainly used in Belgium.

“They didn't want to say anything about that either, so we decided that enough was enough,” Tournaye said. “This summer, we ended the collaboration.”

The Ziekenhuis aan de Stroom (ZAS) hospital in Antwerp has also reviewed its collaboration with ESB. The partnership has not yet been terminated, but is no longer prioritised.