News
30-09-2026
Following recent attention to the conduct of former gynaecologist Dr Henk Ruis, we understand that new questions and concerns may arise among former patients of Dr Ruis. In this article, you can read the most important information and where you can go with your questions.
First of all, we want to emphasise that the stories of those affected by Dr Ruis touch us deeply. We understand that the potential impact on children, parents and others involved can be enormous. Although we explicitly distance ourselves from the way things were done at the time and from Dr Ruis's conduct, we do everything within our power to help those affected.
We support people who were treated in the past and are now concerned by listening, talking with them and helping wherever we can.
The archive of the former clinic Stichting Geertgen, which we have at our disposal, often does not contain the information needed to answer all questions. Where our information ends, we refer people to organisations such as Fiom. Fiom is the centre of expertise for unintended pregnancy, questions about biological relatedness and adoption.
During his career in the 1980s and 1990s, Dr Ruis worked at the Liduina hospital in Boxtel, later until 2005 at the former Sint Joseph hospital in Veghel, from his own practice in Gemert and subsequently under the name Stichting Geertgen at locations in De Mortel and Elsendorp. Stichting Geertgen went bankrupt in 2014.
Nij Geertgen was founded in 2014 by new owners as a sister clinic of an existing fertility clinic in Friesland. The building and equipment of the former Stichting Geertgen were taken over for the new location in Brabant. Former patients of Stichting Geertgen who wished to continue their treatment at Nij Geertgen had to actively arrange for their records to be transferred.
Although the events now being questioned took place before Nij Geertgen was founded, we see it as our social responsibility to support those involved with advice and practical help wherever possible.
People who were treated by Dr Ruis in the past, people who have questions or doubts about their biological relationship with their father, and parents who were treated by Dr Ruis at the time can contact us.
In addition, people conceived before 2004 who want to know whether Dr Ruis could be their biological father can register with Fiom free of charge for DNA testing. More information about this is available from Fiom.
Do you have any questions or concerns following this announcement? You can contact us at donorbank@nijgeertgen.nl. Depending on your question, we will look at which next step is appropriate.
Finally, we would like to emphasise that fertility care has developed considerably since then. At our current clinics, we work with strict, modern protocols and in accordance with current laws and regulations. Transparency, safety and ethical integrity always come first.
You can find more information about registered donor treatments and how donor information is recorded today on this page.
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