“There’s a genetic connection that can’t be denied,” she said.
More than anything, it was a curiosity about sharing DNA with someone. Huhn said that like many who were donor-conceived, she wasn’t seeking a parent-child relationship. She said re-establishing communication seems unlikely, while Fiorica said he “hasn’t ruled out” contacting Huhn. I trusted him.”Īfter they met for lunch, Huhn said she emailed Fiorica, but never got a response. “Now looking at it, it feels manipulative, and that it was done at the doctor’s benefit and not for ours,” Fogelman said. While a patient at Fifth Avenue Medical Group, Fogelman said Fiorica advised against ever disclosing her daughter’s origins to avoid pain and stress. “If he would have done what he was supposed to do and used anonymous sperm, I might not have had Ari, who would have been a different person. Huhn’s mom, Gail Fogelman, said she’s angry over Fiorica’s actions but she “doesn’t want to portray him as an evil demon.” She also doesn’t plan to sue him. Fiorica said he anonymously donated sperm years earlier during his medical residency training, in response to a call for healthy volunteers. “I can’t give you a good reason.”Īsked additional questions about his history, Fiorica said he didn’t implant his sperm in any of his other patients, nor did he donate sperm for other clinic doctors to implant in patients. In an interview with VOSD, his motivation was similarly unclear. Stoking public interest in the topic, HBO recently released “Baby God,” a documentary about the offspring of a Nevada physician who without permission injected women seeking artificial insemination with his own sperm rather than that of donors.įor Huhn, the revelation produced hefty questions: most puzzling, why the deception? Huhn said she asked Fiorica over lunch at a restaurant in 2017, their sole meeting, but never got an explanation. Thanks to a proliferation in DNA testing, more people are figuring out they were “doctor conceived.” As their numbers grow, they’re joining forces to support one another and push for legislative changes, including legal rights to their medical histories. “I realize that I made a mistake,” said Fiorica, who lives in New York and said he’s retired. When contacted by VOSD, Fiorica confirmed that he deceived Huhn’s mom and used his own sperm. “It’s just a very complex situation to ethically work through,” said Huhn. Huhn, who teaches anthropology at Cal State San Bernardino and directs the school’s anthropology museum, drew upon her background to process the startling discovery. “It’s still kind of jarring being the product of what feels like a medical assault,” said Huhn, who is 40 years old. Benjamin Fiorica, the fertility doctor, had used his own sperm. After difficulties conceiving, they told her, they’d turned to now-defunct Fifth Avenue Medical Group, which was also called San Diego Birth Center.Īn obstetrician there sourced sperm, supposedly from an anonymous medical intern, and artificially inseminated Huhn’s mom.īut in 2017, Huhn spit into a tube and sent it to, a consumer DNA testing service, and assembled a family tree. Heading off DNA test results, Huhn’s parents called her and revealed her biological origins. That’s when a family secret became untenable. Brews & News: Voice of San Diego Live PodcastsĪfter a pregnancy complication eight years ago, Arianna Huhn sought genetic testing for herself and her parents.
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