[3] Barwin and his wife left South Africa after he completed his first degree in 1962, in opposition to the Sharpeville massacre.
[5] In 1997, Barwin was appointed to the Order of Canada for having a "profound impact on both the biological and psycho-social aspects of women's reproductive health.
[7] In 1995, Loree-Ann Huard and Wanda Cowton sued Barwin for allegedly using the wrong sperm donor.
[9][10][11] A panel of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario found Barwin guilty of one of three counts of professional misconduct.
They issued an official reprimand, revoked his license practice for two months, and ordered him to cover the $3,650 cost of the disciplinary proceedings.