North Dakota men who discover they were switched as newborns sue hospital

Two families in North Dakota are seeking damages from a hospital, alleging that two newborns were switched at birth nearly 40 years ago. The discovery came to light when Kyle Bylin received an at-home DNA test as a Christmas gift. The test connected him with his biological aunt, whose nephew, Jeremy Morrison, subsequently took a DNA test that confirmed they had been raised by each other's biological families.

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Kyle is still my son – that is never going to change. But I feel robbed of the life I should have had with my biological son. You can’t go back and replace 35 years. First steps, driving a car, getting married – how do you make up for that?

According to a lawsuit filed against Unity Medical Center, Jeremy Morrison and Kyle Bylin were the only babies born at the hospital within hours of each other on January 28, 1988. The complaint alleges that the newborns were switched before leaving the hospital, unbeknownst to their parents, and subsequently raised by the other's biological parents. Both men's parents are also named as plaintiffs in the suit.

Unity Medical Center has reportedly denied responsibility, stating there is no evidence that hospital staff caused the switch, though it 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," the hospital said in a statement. "Unfortunately, because of the passage of nearly four decades, the medical and staffing records that might have provided additional clarity no longer exist, and no members of the delivery team from that time are still employed by the hospital."

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We recognize the profound impact this discovery has had on them and their families. Unfortunately, because of the passage of nearly four decades, the medical and staffing records that might have provided additional clarity no longer exist, and no members of the delivery team from that time are still employed by the hospital.

Kyle Bylin, who was born Jeremy Morrison, still possesses a hospital bracelet that incorrectly identified him as Kyle Bylin. Evelyn Newton, who raised him, expressed her feelings of loss: "Kyle is still my son – that is never going to change. But I feel robbed of the life I should have had with my biological son. You can’t go back and replace 35 years. First steps, driving a car, getting married – how do you make up for that?" Bylin and Morrison have met their biological parents, describing the reunions as "welcoming but awkward." They are now navigating the complexities of getting to know people they never knew before.

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We’ve tried to unite as a group and just recognize that no matter what, there’s different ways that this can be socially messy. Everyone’s getting to know people that they didn’t know before.