A woman from Yonkers had an abortion after receiving false paternity test results, only to discover four months later that the lab made a catastrophic error that changed the course of her life forever.
At a Glance
- A New York woman is suing DNA Diagnostics Center after an incorrect paternity test led her to abort her pregnancy at 20 weeks
- The test falsely indicated a 99.9% probability that her unborn child was fathered by a brief fling rather than her fiancé
- Four months after the abortion, the company admitted an “IT error” and corrected the results to show 0% chance the other man was the father
- The woman claims the error destroyed her relationship with her fiancé and robbed her of the family she planned to build
- DNA Diagnostics Center has a history of similar errors, including a 2018 case that resulted in a $2.5 million damages award
A Life-Altering Error
A Yonkers woman is pursuing legal action against DNA Diagnostics Center and Winn Health Labs after an erroneous paternity test result led her to terminate her pregnancy at 20 weeks. The woman, who remains anonymous in court filings, had been planning a future with her fiancé when the devastating test results arrived.
The incorrect report showed a 99.9% probability that her unborn child was fathered by a man she had a brief relationship with during a temporary separation from her fiancé, not by her long-term partner as she had believed.
The heartbreaking decision to terminate the pregnancy came after the woman received what she thought was definitive proof that her fiancé was not the father. Four months after the abortion, she received shocking news: the lab admitted an “IT error” had occurred, and revised test results showed a 0% chance that the other man was the father. By then, the damage to her life and relationship was irreversible.
A Relationship Destroyed
The woman and her fiancé had been trying to conceive and build a family together. During a brief breakup caused by relationship stress, she had protected relations with another man. After reconciling with her fiancé, she discovered she was pregnant and initially believed he was the father. The couple even held a gender reveal party. However, seeking complete certainty before marriage, she opted for a paternity test that delivered the catastrophic false result.
The woman reports having regrets during the abortion procedure itself, but by that point, it was too late to stop the process. The emotional trauma only intensified when she later learned the test results were completely wrong. The revelation came months too late, and the damage to her relationship proved irreparable. She is now in therapy dealing with severe emotional distress and the end of her engagement.
A History of Testing Errors
This is not the first time DNA Diagnostics Center has been implicated in life-altering testing errors. In 2018, a Connecticut man was wrongly informed he was not the father of his child, resulting in a lawsuit that ended with a $2.5 million damages award after the company admitted liability. The testing facility that processed the Yonkers woman’s sample raised additional concerns, as blood was drawn at a location that also housed a beauty salon.
Seeking Justice and Accountability
The woman’s attorney, Craig Phemister, has raised serious questions about why it took four months for the company to notify her of the error and how many other families might be affected by similar mistakes. DNA Diagnostics Center processes a high volume of tests and even provides DNA testing services for government agencies, raising concerns about the reliability of their results in legal contexts. The company has stated they take immediate action to validate results if concerns are raised.
The woman’s lawsuit seeks damages for emotional distress, medical costs, and the devastating impact on her life plans. While reflecting on her loss, she noted, “My daughter would have been born on the 17th,” a poignant reminder of the irreversible consequences of the lab’s error. The case highlights the profound responsibility testing companies bear when their results influence life-altering decisions, and raises questions about quality control measures in an industry where mistakes can have tragic and permanent consequences.
