IVF scandal involves dozens of cases in northern Cyprus

A BBC investigation has revealed that at least 30 children are feared to have been conceived using the wrong sperm or egg donors at fertility clinics in the Turkish-occupied north of Cyprus. Many of the affected parents are British nationals who selected anonymous donors based on specific criteria such as medical history, personality, and physical appearance. DNA testing conducted by some families reportedly showed genetic origins that did not match the profiles of their chosen donors. Roughly half of the identified cases are linked to the Dogus IVF Centre, which was blacklisted by the Cryos International sperm bank in 2016.

In response to the report, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office updated its travel advice, warning that fertility treatments in the north carry significant risks due to a lack of regulation and oversight compared to the UK. While some clinic staff, including Dr. Firdevs Uguz Tip, have denied allegations of wrongdoing, the Miracle IVF clinic has characterized the BBC report as misleading, stating that no official evidence of malpractice has been produced. The administration in the occupied north has promised an investigation into the clinics, though the UK government maintains that its consular support in the territory remains highly restricted.