Metro police say the investigation into the fertility clinic could be “very extensive.”

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Dozens of women have contacted Metro Nashville police following an investigation by the Center for Reproductive Health by NewsChannel 5.

Now the police have launched their own criminal investigation.

The women were all patients of the Nashville fertility clinic, which suddenly closed last month after the clinic couldn’t pay its employees.

The women who filed police reports believed the man who claimed to be their doctor was a licensed doctor.

But to their shock and horror, our investigation revealed that this was not the case.

When Metro Police learned what we had uncovered, the department immediately set up a way to give these women the opportunity to report what had happened to them. Police said they were surprised by the huge response.

“I know that in my tenure in this department we have never had a case like this,” said Capt. Johnnie Melzoni NewsChannel 5 investigated.

Melzoni heads the Metro Police Department’s Special Victims Unit.

“What did you mean when you said you had never had a case like this before?” we asked him.

“On this scale,” he said. “This could be a very, very large investigation.”

His unit, which investigates sexual assault, is now focusing on the Center for Reproductive Health, the Nashville fertility clinic that suddenly closed its doors in April.

But sexual assault? In the hospital?

Remember Sarah Davis, the former patient we interviewed at the start of our investigation?

“What did they tell you about Dr. (Farere) Dyer tells?” We asked her.

“Nothing but wonderful things,” Davis told us.

“And they told you he’s a fertility doctor?” we asked.

“Right,” she replied.

Police said they began investigating after we discovered that Dyer was not a licensed doctor and had treated many of the patients at the clinic.

“In order to perform a procedure, you must be licensed by the state of Tennessee, and (from our initial investigation) procedures were performed that would require a licensed physician,” Captain Melzoni said.

Davis was the first to tell us how Dyer performed on her a procedure called IUI – or intrauterine insemination – which involves inserting sperm directly into a woman’s uterus using a small catheter.

“How many IUIs did you have there?” we asked Davis.

“Two,” she said.

“And who carried it out?” We carried on.

“Both were Dr. Dyer,” Davis said.

Metro police then set up a special email box so that women who were patients at the clinic, particularly Farere Dyer, could contact them. This email address is [email protected]. And less than 48 hours later after that email address was set up, police had already heard from 46 women.

“Forty-six is ​​a lot,” remarked Captain Melzoni.

“So you call these women, these patients, victims?” We asked Melzoni.

“Absolutely. Absolutely,” he replied.

“Why?” We were amazed.

“It’s hard when you read the emails that come in and see how hurt these women are,” Melzoni said.

As we discovered, the women had every reason to believe that Dyer was a doctor. That’s what hospital staff called him. In the center’s own social media posts, he was referred to as “Dr. Dyer”.

“Dr. Dyer’s name is verified (in their records) and confirmed that he performed the IUIs,” Davis told me.

That’s right. The clinic’s own medical forms – used for both of Davis’ procedures – identified Dyer as the doctor. In the patients’ medical records, Dyer’s own nurse wrote in her notes “Dr. Dyer.”

“You know, these are people who wanted a family and in return they put their trust in this company, and there’s sadness, there’s betrayal,” Melzoni said of Dyer’s patients.

Police are now offering these women free advice and are encouraging as many patients and even former employees as possible to come forward.

“Some of these cases will have criminal consequences. And we want to talk to everyone about their experiences so we can find out exactly what happened,” Melzoni said.

Melzoni told NewsChannel 5 Investigates that the Metro Police Department is taking this case and the allegations very seriously. There are three investigators focused solely on this case, while others in the unit also step in to help so they can get back to each woman as quickly as possible. The unit also works closely with the Davidson County District Attorney’s Office and the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office.

Since we spoke with Captain Melzoni, more families have contacted Metro Police. There are now up to 65.

Did that influence you?

If you were a patient or employee of the Center for Reproductive Health, investigators would like to speak with you. They ask that you contact all three agencies.

The Metro Nashville Police Department has created a special email box for people to submit complaints and share information about possible criminal activity related to the Center for Reproductive Health.

This email address is [email protected]. These emails are forwarded directly to the Police Department’s Special Victims Unit.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti sued Dr. Vasquez and the Center for Reproductive Health under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act and demanded immediate compensation for patients affected by Dr. Vasquez’s unexpected cessation of patient care and the sudden closure of his clinic. You can file a complaint Fill out a complaint form here (tn.gov) or you can call (615) 741-4737 or toll-free within Tennessee at (800) 342-8385.

And complaints about the unauthorized practice of the medical profession can be submitted to the Tennessee Department of Health via their website at https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/health-professional-boards/report-a-concern.html (tn.gov).

Previous NewsChannel 5 coverage of the Center for Reproductive Health:
Patients at a closed fertility clinic were shocked to learn the man who treated them was not a licensed doctor
Tennessee Attorney General on lawsuit against Center for Reproductive Health over patient abandonment
The Center for Reproductive Health issues a statement regarding the closure
Legal remedies for patients of the now closed fertility center
Patients are left in limbo after Nashville fertility clinic suddenly closes