 JANUARY 7 • 2021 | 11

letters

Too Sympathetic 
to Dr. Peven
My family and I were recent-
ly reading the article “
An 
Unknown Mishpachah” (Dec. 
31, page 14), and I wanted to 
write in with some deep con-
cerns we had. We found Dr. 
Peven’s actions absolutely appall-
ing and not ethical, both med-
ically and Jewishly speaking. 
The article painted Dr. Peven in 
a sympathetic light and not in 
the way that I think a journalist 
ethically has the responsibility 
to paint someone who has com-
mitted su 
ch disturbing actions. 
Dr. Peven is referred in the 
article as “a well-respected 
doctor,
” and there are countless 
quotes included by folks that 
refer to him in a wonderful 
light such as “Jamie has come 
to think of him as a scientific 
man who was just trying to help 
families become whole,
” “con-
sidered to be a very competent 
obstetrician-gynecologist,
” “Jean 
… prefers the term “donor dad.
” 
Though the small section 
in the middle covers the dis-
cussion around fertility fraud, 
it does so in a light that does 
not seem to really condone the 
actions, nor is there the word 
“crime” or “criminal” anywhere 

in the article. A doctor who 
performs a medical treatment 
without consent, when the 
patient is able to consent, is 
committing medical malprac-
tice and would, and should, be 
prosecuted in Michigan. 
I understand the article cov-
ers other elements of the story, 
such as the biological children 
learning that they are Jewish, 
but the author missed the 
opportunity to do their due dil-
igence and name these disturb-
ing actions for what they are. 
There is a pattern in this coun-
try of male doctors doing things 
for and to their female patients 
without their consent, which 
is what Dr. Peven did in this 
case by eliminating their deci-
sion to use their chosen sperm 
donor and secretly replacing the 
sperm with his own. 
I think we have a responsibil-
ity when telling stories to name 
harmful actions when they take 
place. Language matters and 
what we use to describe people, 
their actions, and the repercus-
sions of their actions shapes 
future stories and future actions 
of others.

— Tamara Stein 

Suffolk University Law School, 

JD Candidate

Correction
In “
Alumni Step Up,” Dec. 31, 2020, pg. 18, the woman on the 
far right in this photo was misidentified. She is Liz Jacobs, not 
Celia Savonen.
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Southfield, MI 48034

1-248-945-1111

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24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110

Southfield, MI 48034

1-248-945-1111

24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110
Southfield, MI 48034
1-248-945-1111

24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110
Southfield, MI 48034
1-248-945-1111

24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110

Southfield, MI 48034

1-248-945-1111

24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110
Southfield, MI 48034
1-248-945-1111

What Is
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24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110

Southfield, MI 48034

1-248-945-1111

24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110
Southfield, MI 48034
1-248-945-1111

What Is
Your Plan?.....
Call Us.

We focus on Probate Litigation 
and Administration. Administering 
estates where everyone is on the same 
page. Protecting you from self-dealing 
parties appointed by will, trust or the 
court. Protecting you from family 
members who always want more.

michprobate.com

24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110

Southfield, MI 48034

1-248-945-1111

24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110
Southfield, MI 48034
1-248-945-1111

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