Two Men Sue Hospital for 38-Year Birth Mix-Up

Two men, switched at birth, are suing a hospital after DNA tests reveal a 38-year mix-up that changed their lives forever.

Two men are taking legal action against a hospital in North Dakota after a shocking DNA test revealed they were switched at birth. This revelation, which has upended their lives for nearly four decades, has led to suits filed by Kyle Bylin and Jeremy Morrison along with their parents against Christian Unity Hospital Corporation, known as Unity Medical Center.

The lawsuit claims that on January 26, 1988, the hospital staff mistakenly swapped the newborns, and this grave error remained unnoticed for 38 years. The claims in the complaint include emotional distress, negligence, and medical malpractice.

The stir of events began when Bylin received a DNA kit as a Christmas present. Upon submitting his DNA sample, he matched with a biological aunt on a genealogy website. Encouraged by this connection, Morrison, who is Bylin’s hereditary relative, took his own DNA test that confirmed their unbelievable swap. The two men grew up in different regions of the country, ruling out any possibility that such a mix-up occurred during their upbringing.

Morrison reflected on the moment he discovered the truth, recalling, “Once I saw a photo of Bylin’s brother, it clicked into place. They looked very much alike.” For years, he felt out of place, stating, “I was that blonde-haired kid that stood out in a family full of brown-haired people.”

Bylin was similarly astounded. He described his realization as, “That’s when my mind was just completely blown. We could have never imagined that it was an actual birth switch that occurred.” He retains the original hospital ID bracelet from his birth, which bears a name that was not his, and this serves as a piece of tangible evidence in the lawsuit.

The lawsuit details that while acting under the scope of their employment, hospital employees failed to recognize and rectify the switch. Attorney Tim O’Keefe has stated that he spent about a year seeking an amicable monetary settlement with the hospital before ultimately deciding to file the lawsuit.

In defense, Unity Medical Center has filed a motion to dismiss the case, arguing that there is no substantial evidence linking their staff to the mix-up. They further claimed that relevant records from 1988 do not exist, as none of the original delivery team members are still employed at the facility.

The hospital, in a statement regarding the situation, acknowledged the profound emotional impact on both men and their families but reiterated that the medical records needed may have dissipated with time.

For the parents of both men, the emotional turmoil runs significantly deeper than biological ties. Evelyn Newton, who raised Bylin, expressed her grief: “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?”

Morrison, who resides in Colorado City, Colorado and works in wind energy inspection, reflected on how the DNA findings have reshaped his entire life. “I know I definitely wouldn’t be here in Colorado today if I went home with the right parents,” he stated. He articulated the feelings of love and belonging he felt growing up, affirming, “A DNA test is not going to take away 38 years of memories.”

In a twist of fate, Bylin finally met his biological mother, Liz O’Toole, on April 4, 2025, in Minneapolis. While both men have since met their biological parents, they describe their encounters as both welcoming and awkward. Although they have spoken on the phone, a face-to-face meeting is still on the horizon.

Bylin underscored their shared journey: “We’ve tried to unite as a group and just recognize that no matter what, there are different ways this can be socially messy. Everyone’s getting to know people they didn’t know before.”