Former Whitefish Bay OB-GYN accused of artificially inseminating ten patients with his own sperm
WHITEFISH BAY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A woman is claiming her former Whitefish Bay OB-GYN artificially inseminated her and 9 other women with his sperm without consent.
Mary Ellen Lukezich says she relied on OB-GYN Dr. Frederick G. Dettmann when looking for fertility treatment as she looked to conceive a child back in April 1980. Dr. Dettmann reportedly worked for decades at 5589 N. Bay Ridge Avenue in Whitefish Bay, practicing obstetrics, gynecology, and infertility medicine.
According to her lawyer, Lukezich consented to Dr. Dettmann's idea of artificial insemination using the sperm of a medical school student who was an anonymous donor. She gave birth to her son, Joseph Laedtke-Heider, on Feb. 13, 1983.
"The anonymous medical student donor that my mother was promised as my biological father never existed." -- Joseph Laedtke-Heider
Laedtke-Heider in Dec. 2024, with genealogy testing, reportedly discovered his father had 9 other half-siblings and was able to trace it all back to Dr. Dettmann. "Words cannot fully express what it feels like to learn that your entire identity is built on a lie," said Laedtke-Heider.
Now, other women who were patients of Dr. Dettmann and underwent artificial insemination from an anonymous donor are asked to come forward.
"Dr. Dettman committed the ultimate betrayal, a doctor who was supposed to be caring for his patient, instead secretly impregnated his patient with his own sperm, without her knowledge, without her consent, and against her understanding of her care," said attorney Al Foeckler. The family is looking to file a civil suit in the next 60 days, alleging battery.
Whitefish Bay police released police logs from back in 1985 and 1986, where a woman accused Dr. Dettman of sexually assaulting her. On Aug. 19, 1985, a man stated his wife was sexually assaulted while in a gynecological exam with Dr. Dettmann. The doctor denied the allegations. The next day, the assistant district attorney reportedly declined to issue charges as "burden of proof was too difficult."
Then, in April of 1986, the medical examining board "considered the relevant facts and voted to close this case without further action." We reached out to the board for more information and comment but have not heard back. Whitefish Bay police say they have no other records since they were "destroyed according to records retention laws that were in place at that time."
There are no current investigations at this time, per the Whitefish Bay Police Department.
Dr. Dettmann, according to Wisconsin's Department of Financial Institutions, registered with the state in September of 1976 and dissolved his practice in December of 1997. He's believed to now be a 92-year-old man who lives in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Potential victims of Dr. Dettmann are asked to contact Cannon & Dunphy at 262-782-2700 or email [email protected]
Statement on behalf of Dr. Dettmann:
Dr. Frederick Dettmann, a board-certified OB/GYN, spent his medical career focused on surgical specialties: cancer surgery, high-risk surgery, reconstructive and reproductive surgery, pioneering many medical advancements still utilized in modern medicine. He held numerous leadership positions within the medical profession and was recognized both in Wisconsin and nationally for his contributions to medicine and patient care. After a distinguished career, Dr. Frederick Dettmann retired from active practice in the early 1990s. Throughout his esteemed career, Dr. Dettmann was never sued, disciplined, investigated, had his licensure challenged nor were any ethical complaints ever made
against him.
Dr. Dettmann, currently age 91, is aware of the claims being suggested. Due to HIPAA and Wisconsin’s medical confidentiality laws, he cannot comment on any patient care he rendered during his career. The events referenced are alleged to have occurred almost 50
years ago. Dr. Dettmann has no independent recollection of the individuals making these allegations and is unaware of any evidence supporting the claims being asserted.