COLORADO CITY, Colo. — The families of two men who found out through DNA tests that they were switched at birth 38 years ago have filed a lawsuit against Unity Medical Center in Grafton, North Dakota, accusing the hospital of robbing them of the lives they were meant to lead.

The men were born on July 26, 1988, at Unity Medical Center, according to the lawsuit filed in state court last week. Kyle Bylin discovered the truth after taking a randomly chosen at-home DNA test during a Christmas gift exchange. “That’s when my mind was just completely blown,” Bylin said. “We could have never imagined that it was an actual birth switch that occurred.”

Morrison, the other man involved, said he was convinced as soon as he saw a photo of Bylin's brother and realized they looked very much alike. He added, “I did well in school. A DNA test is not going to take away 38 years of memories.”

Unity Medical Center acknowledged the profound impact of the discovery in a statement, noting that due to the passage of nearly four decades, medical and staffing records that might have provided clarity no longer exist, and no members of the delivery team from that time are still employed by the hospital.

This case follows similar incidents globally: in 2016, the Canadian government launched an investigation after DNA evidence showed two men from a northern Manitoba Indigenous community were switched at birth in 1975. In 2024, two women sued the government of Norway alleging a breach of human rights after discovering they had been switched at birth.

The lawsuit against Unity Medical Center highlights ongoing concerns about hospital accountability and the lasting effects of such errors on individuals and families.

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