Two North Dakota families have filed a lawsuit against Unity Medical Center in Grafton, alleging that hospital staff accidentally switched two baby boys at birth more than 36 years ago. Kyle Bylin and Jeremy Morrison, the only males born at the facility on January 26, 1988, were allegedly sent home with each other's biological parents and raised without the error being discovered for decades.
The lawsuit, filed by the two men and their families, names Christian Unity Hospital Corporation, operating as Unity Medical Center, as the defendant. The plaintiffs contend that hospital staff erroneously switched the infants shortly after their births.
Morrison, who now resides in Colorado, reportedly discovered the mix-up approximately two years ago when a DNA test revealed that the parents who raised him were not his biological parents. His aunt provided DNA for the test, which indicated Bylin was her nephew. Morrison stated he always felt different from his upbringing, noting a lack of physical resemblance within his family.
According to reports, both sets of biological parents have met their respective sons, but Bylin and Morrison have not yet met each other. Morrison expressed that his life trajectory would have been different had he been raised by his biological family, mentioning he would have likely worked on a farm with an older brother he never knew.
Unity Medical Center has denied the allegations, requesting the court to dismiss the case. Attorneys for the hospital argued that their staff exercised the appropriate level of skill and care at the time and used reasonable judgment and diligence. The hospital also raised the possibility that the lawsuit is barred by the statute of limitations due to the significant time elapsed since the alleged incident. Furthermore, the hospital is seeking a jury trial and has introduced the defense of comparative fault, suggesting that any damages could be attributed to parties other than the hospital.
In a statement, Unity Medical Center acknowledged the unusual situation and the profound impact of the discovery on the men and their families. However, the hospital stated that due to the passage of nearly four decades, relevant medical and staffing records are no longer available, and no delivery team members from that era remain employed by the hospital. The medical center also stated that it has found no evidence to support claims of responsibility for the events.