Update
We care deeply about our patients. At Ï㽶ÊÓƵ of Utah Health Care we know we must continue to earn the trust of our patients every day by providing exceptional care, and engaging with patients in a way that is compassionate, honest and transparent.
Today, we want to discuss a story that first became public after a woman shared concerns with us and the media. She has reported that she and her husband received infertility treatment at the Ï㽶ÊÓƵ of Utah Community Laboratory and Reproductive Medical Technologies, Inc. (RMTI) in the early 1990s. Recently, a genetic test revealed that contrary to what they had believed, her husband was not the biological father of the couple’s daughter, who was born in 1992. The biological father has since been identified as Tom Lippert, a former medical technician of the two laboratories who was responsible for preparing sperm samples. We sympathize with the anxiety this family has experienced. We do not know how this occurred and are carefully reviewing the concerns raised.
It is important that we clarify the affiliation between the Ï㽶ÊÓƵ of Utah Community Laboratory and RMTI, which began in 1984 and ended when RMTI became defunct in 1998. Although the two laboratories were separate entities, we have now learned that in addition to being co-located, the labs shared administrative oversight and staff. Understandably, to many patients, they might well have appeared to be one entity. This overlap has made it difficult to piece together who had oversight of various activities, and who was ultimately accountable. Both laboratories employed Mr. Lippert, who, as widely reported, had a criminal record.
We take responsibility for this situation and the uncertainty it has created, and want to provide information to our patients, and to patients of RMTI who believed they were in the care of the Ï㽶ÊÓƵ. We have reached out to the patients who have raised concerns, and want to share here our ongoing plans.
Community Lab update Video
FAQs
- Who can I call to ask about paternity testing if I think my family is impacted by this situation?
- What happened?
- What was the relationship between Reproductive Medical Technology, Inc. (RMTI) and Ï㽶ÊÓƵ of Utah Health Care Community Laboratory?
- What has the Ï㽶ÊÓƵ of Utah Health Care done about this issue?
- Is this clinic continuing to operate?
- Why did you choose a special committee and outside expert to review this case?
- Have laboratory standards changed?
- What should a concerned patient do after learning about this incident?
- How will you keep patients informed?
- If I’m concerned and want my child tested, do I need his/her consent?
- I used or was conceived with anonymous donor sperm. I’d like information on my sperm donor. Where can I obtain this?
Q: Who can I call to ask about paternity testing if I think my family is impacted by this situation?
Individuals with questions can the Ï㽶ÊÓƵ’s hotline at 801-587-5852. Wendy Kohlman, a respected genetic counselor with the Ï㽶ÊÓƵ of Utah’s Huntsman Cancer Institute, is the point of contact for any family with questions or who are seeking free paternity testing. Ms. Kohlman is not associated with the Ï㽶ÊÓƵ’s andrology or reproductive medicine program. All inquiries will be kept confidential.
Q: What happened?
A: A woman shared concerns with us and the media, reporting that she and her husband received infertility treatment at the Ï㽶ÊÓƵ of Utah Community Laboratory and Reproductive Medical Technologies, Inc. (RMTI) in the early 1990s. Recently, a genetic test revealed that contrary to what they had believed, her husband was not the biological father of the couple’s daughter, who was born in 1992. The family reported that the biological father has since been identified as Tom Lippert, a former medical technician of the two clinics who was responsible for preparing sperm samples. From the information that we have to date, we can not be certain as to what occurred. We sympathize with the anxiety this family has suffered and we understand that this information may raise concern for others.
Q: What was the relationship between Reproductive Medical Technology, Inc. (RMTI) and Ï㽶ÊÓƵ of Utah Health Care Community Laboratory?
A. Ï㽶ÊÓƵ of Utah Community Laboratory and RMTI began an affiliation in 1984 which ended when RMTI became defunct in 1998. Although the two laboratories were separate legal entities, we have now learned that in addition to being co-located, the labs shared administrative oversight and staff. Understandably, to many patients they might well have appeared to be one entity. This overlap has made it difficult to piece together who had oversight of various activities, and who was ultimately accountable. Both clinics employed Mr. Lippert.
Q: What has the Ï㽶ÊÓƵ of Utah done about this issue?
A: When this issue was first raised, we took several immediate actions. First, we began looking for records associated with the case many of which are over two decades old. Second, we assembled a team of top medical professionals to review them. Third, we retained an independent third-party medical ethicist to review the methodology used by the committee and its findings and recommendations.
Q: Is this clinic continuing to operate?
A: The RMTI facility is now defunct. It closed in 1998 when its founder passed away. The Ï㽶ÊÓƵ’s Community Laboratory also closed approximately ten years ago.
Q: Why did you choose a special committee and outside expert to review this case?
A: The information currently available raises challenging medical and ethical issues. For this reason, we have assigned three physician leaders to review the facts and make findings and recommendations for moving forward. We have retained an outside medical ethicist to review the methodology, findings, and recommendations to ensure the integrity of the process.
Q: Have laboratory standards changed?
A: Our policies and protocols today are very different than what was in place in these two labs, given the industry standard in the 80’s and early 90’s. In the laboratories and clinics where we handle patient specimens and treat infertility and other conditions today, we maintain strict protocols regarding identification and tissue handling. We meet rigorous national accreditation standards and perform internal compliance audits and reviews. We no longer maintain a donor sperm bank and rely instead on national banks. In addition, all our employees undergo careful screening and criminal background checks.
Q: What should a concerned patient do after learning about this incident?
A: Our patients are our primary focus. We have created a hotline number for patients who have questions about their care: 801-587-5852. In addition, we are posting information and updates on our website. Patients can also email us at andrology@hsc.utah.edu.
Q: How will you keep patients informed?
A: We have set up a hotline number for patients who have questions about their care. That number is 801-587-5852. In addition, we are posting information and updates on our website at www.communitylabfacts.org.
Q: If I’m concerned and want my child tested, do I need his/her consent?
A: Yes. The Ï㽶ÊÓƵ has contracted with the national laboratory TestMe DNA to conduct this testing on our behalf. Information about the company is available online at http://testmedna.com. The laboratory is not owned or affiliated with the Ï㽶ÊÓƵ of Utah. Our contract with the laboratory requires that any paternity testing of individuals over 18 years of age be done with full consent of those being tested. We believe this requirement is appropriate and meets the important ethical responsibility we have to our patients.
Q: I used or was conceived with anonymous donor sperm. I’d like information on my sperm donor. Where can I obtain this?
A: Sperm donors donate under the expectation of maintaining their anonymity, which limits any information available sperm banks can disclose about them. Sperm banks typically provide profiles about the sperm donor during the selection process, but this would be the only information available regarding the sperm donor and his identity.