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A woman is suing a fertility clinic because of the “pain, suffering” and “emotional distress” attached to raising a non-white baby.

Jennifer Cramblett discovered the sperm they received was donated by a black male instead of the blonde-haired, blue-eyed white man she and her same-sex partner requested.

When she gave birth to “a beautiful, obviously mixed race, baby” in August, 2012, Cramblett sued for wrongful birth and breach of warranty.

In September, 2015, the judge threw the case out because “wrongful birth” cases are meant to address when children are born with congenital or hereditary disorders, and not cases of babies being born a mixed-race.

She has since filed a new suit earlier in 2016, arguing the fertility clinic should pay over $150,000 in damages for their negligence.  Claiming she is now “facing numerous challenges and external pressures associated with an unplanned transracial parent-child relationship for which she was not, and is not, prepared,” the suit said.

Now that her daughter is three years old, Cramblett believes damages from mothering a mixed race baby include the need to move out of “intolerant” Uniontown, Ohio, the stress of racially insensitive family members and the need for personal counselling for herself and the whole family given she “was raised around stereotypical attitudes” towards black people.

For “a decent haircut” Cramblett claims she drives to a black neighbourhood which she believes is more stressful than what most mothers experience, and it makes her feel uncomfortable.

Cramblett said in an earlier lawsuit filed in an Illinois court that although she and her partner love the little girl, she is concerned about bringing her up in a white, racially intolerant community, and in a white “often unconsciously insensitive” family.

How would you feel if you were put in a similar situation?

Share your comments below.

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  • Do they record the hair and hair colours? I very much doubt it.
    In Aust. they record the sperm donor’s medical history.

    Reply

  • What a shock for the family I guess you never know how you will react till you are in there shoes

    Reply

  • I guess if this had happened to me I would certainly be in shock and I guess I would complain about the mix up. Not sure that I would go so far as to want to take it to court as personally I would find that stressful. I would hope that I would feel thankful for the fact that I have a healthy child. Im really not worried about skin colour but sure if i was expecting a white baby and had a black baby it would take a lot of adjustment but I know that I would love that baby with all my heart.

    Reply

  • This child, like all children, did not ask to be born. Once born, all children deserve to be loved and nurtured and accepted for who they are.

    Reply

  • We live in a time and age that we think that we can get what we want, how we want it and when we want it. It’s good that there is a limit to this and that we can see that we can’t order and regulate everything. I hope this couple will learn to see the true beauty and blessing of this child.
    I’m concerned what the attitude of the parents will do to the child when it realizes that her birth was causing challenges and external pressures to her parents and was perceived as a wrongful birth !!

    Reply

  • I would be so greatful for my baby, race doesn’t even come into it for me

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  • This is very controversial. I personally dont agree with it, but I can see where they are coming from – but i dont think suing is right.

    Reply

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