North Dakota men who discover they were switched as newborns sue hospital | North Dakota
The DNA discovery led two families to accuse a North Dakota hospital of changing the course of their lives after learning they were allegedly switched at birth nearly four decades ago.
Kyle Bylin uncovered the truth after taking a home DNA test during a Christmas gift exchange. The test connected him to his biological aunt through a genealogy platform and encouraged his nephew, Jeremy Morrison, to take his own DNA test. The results confirmed that the two men were raised by each other’s biological families.
Jeremy Morrison and Kyle Bylin were the only babies born within hours of each other at the hospital on Jan. 28, 1988, according to the complaint filed against Unity medical center in North Dakota.
The lawsuit alleges that without the parents’ knowledge, newborn babies were switched before leaving the hospital and each child was raised by the other’s biological parents. The complaint also states that both men’s parents are plaintiffs.
“Unity Medical Center employees and/or agents who altered newborns and subsequently failed to recognize or correct the error were acting within the scope of their employment and/or agency,” the complaint states. People.
Unity Medical Center reportedly denied liability, saying there was no evidence that hospital staff caused the change. But the hospital does not dispute that the babies were switched at some point.
“We recognize the profound impact this discovery has had on them and their families,” Unity Medical said in a statement. ABC News. “Unfortunately, due to the passage of nearly four decades, medical and personnel records that would have provided further clarity are no longer available and no members of the obstetric team have since remained employed at the hospital.”
Bylin, born Jeremy Morrison, says he still has the hospital bracelet that incorrectly identifies him as Kyle Bylin.
“Kyle is still my son; that will never change,” said Evelyn Newton, who raised him as her own. Associated Press. “But I feel like I’ve been robbed of the life I was supposed to have with my biological son. You can’t go back and change 35 years. First steps, driving a car, getting married; how do you make up for that?”
Since learning the truth, Bylin and Morrison have met their biological parents. They described the meetings to ABC News as “nice but awkward.” Although the two talked on the phone, they have not yet met face to face.
“We’ve tried to unite as a group and recognize that no matter what, there are different ways this can be socially messy,” Bylin told the ABC. “Everyone starts to get to know people they didn’t know before.”
Although it is relatively rare for babies to be displaced at birth, it is more common than most people expect. according to DNA Diagnostic CenterUp to 18 babies a year may end up with families that aren’t actually theirs, but baby swapping is often caught soon after it happens.
