Morris Wortman, Embattled OB-GYN, Dies in Plane Crash
Dr. Morris Wortman, MD, a physician who faced accusations of 'fertility fraud,' tragically died in a plane crash on Sunday, May 28, at the age of 72. The fatal incident occurred in Orleans County and involved a homemade aircraft piloted by Earl Luce, 70, of Brockport, with Dr. Wortman as a passenger, according to the Orleans County Sheriff's Office.
Authorities reported that the plane crashed when its wings detached. Preliminary investigations revealed that the wings fell into an orchard, while the fuselage continued west for approximately 1000 to 1500 yards before crashing into a pasture behind a residence, Sheriff Christopher Bourke stated in a press release.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) identified the aircraft as a Wittman W-5 Buttercup, originally designed by Steve Wittman in 1938, as reported by the Associated Press.
Dr. Morris Wortman, an Obstetrics and Gynecology specialist, became board-certified in the field in 1982. He initially served as Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Genesee Valley Group Health Association before establishing his own practice, specializing in menstrual disorders. He was known for being an abortion provider and frequently faced opposition from anti-abortion protesters.
During the 1980s, Wortman was accused of artificially inseminating multiple women in the area with his own sperm. One such case involved Morgan Hellquist of Geneseo, who filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against him in September 2021. Hellquist discovered through DNA genealogy tests that Wortman was her biological father and alleged in the ongoing lawsuit that he was aware of this fact while continuing to serve as her OB-GYN.
The plane crash remains under investigation by the Orleans County Deputies, the National Transportation Safety Board, and the Federal Aviation Administration.
