Dr Donald Cline's fast facts. You just relive this nightmare, every single time, she said. have a donor sample available, the affidavit said he told them. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Was Dr. Donald Cline Convicted of Any Crimes? He did, however, lie to the attorney generals office when they inquired about his activities, and for that, he was charged with two counts of felony obstruction of justice in 2016. He settled in Indiana with his wife Audrey and their sons, Donna and Doug. The local OB/GYN physician admitted he used his own sperm on dozens of his patients while in practice for years. "I called my mom and I was like, 'Mom, is it possible I have random siblings out there somewhere?'" WTTV reports that some of Clines biological children simply wish they knew how many siblings Cline produced with his own DNA, but fear that may never come to light. The horrifying documentary focuses on Donald Cline, a fertility . Through 23andMe, the women discovered that there were eight half siblings, contradicting Dr. Clines assertion that the sperm was used for only three pregnancies. Case Number. . He said he had given his own sperm to several patients, according to court papers. "This is so weird," she recalls thinking. How many children did he father? Cline has never given a reason to explain why he took the actions he did, but some of the children have their own theories ranging from his potential link to Quiverfull, a conservative strain of Evangelical Christianity whose followers believe large families are a direct blessing from God, to racist views. A Fertility Doctor Used His Sperm on Unwitting Women. "She was like, 'I don't know what you're talking about. They encouraged parents never to tell their children that they were conceived by a sperm donor. Dr. Donald Cline has fathered 94 children and counting. And in 2019, a new law was finally created to make fertility fraud illegal (via Legiscan). One scroll through 23andMe later, and she realized she had seven half-siblings she'd never met before. "We just had Mother's Day last weekend, so I'm sure that even just as a result of that, we'll find another sibling or two.". First, Cline has two children with his wife, Audrey. Three officers shot, standoff follows in Kansas City, Mo., police say, Vanessa Bryant, family settles claims over Kobe crash site photos for $28.5M, Pennsylvania police seized gloves, flashlight from home of Idaho murders suspect. "There was a period of time, I didn't know if I was going to make it. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. ", Flash forward to today, and she's also excited about Our Father's release. All registered. Ms. Ballard said she also reported the half siblings findings to local law enforcement, and while the Marion County Prosecutors Office in Indianapolis ended up charging Dr. Cline for misleading investigators, Ms. Ballard was told there is no law in Indiana that would criminalize Dr. Cline using his own sperm to inseminate patients. She was treated at Cline's office between 1981-1982, but she didn't find out what he had done until the 2010s (via The Atlantic). Our Father is the stomach-turning new true-crime documentary on Netflix about the actions of a now-disgraced fertility doctor, Dr. Donald Cline. The test showed that their family doctor, Dr. Cline was his biological doctor. Peter Pogue, his lawyer, said Dr. Cline would continue to defend himself in the appropriate forums but declined to answer further questions. Many decades later, Cline's numerous children are finally discovering the horror of just how many kids he actually fathered, reports Netflix. Jacoba and several of her half-siblings share their difficulties in coming to terms with the shocking revelation. at least eight other people in its database, the affidavit said. AN INVESTIGATION into the practices of fertility doctor, Donald Cline, led to a number of bombshell revelations. Does the story explain how Is Donald Cline Still Married? Cline fathered at least 94 biological children, according to the documentary, but the exact number of children conceived is impossible to know. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. They grew frustrated when they learned there weren . Can you record your spouse without consent in California? Dr. Donald Cline used to be known as one of the finest fertility doctors in Indiana (via The Atlantic). Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. '", "At that point, I just didn't think it was real," she adds. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site! One of Cline's children, Jacoba Ballard, uncovered the truth when she grew suspicious of the doctor after taking a 23AndMe DNA test in search of possible half-siblings. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. The term is also used in cases where donor eggs are used without consent and more broadly, in instances where doctors and other . is not accused of hiding documents, influencing witnesses or otherwise not She also received phone calls from Cline asking her not to share the story with any journalists. In Virginia in 1992, an infertility specialist was convicted on 52 counts of fraud and perjury for artificially inseminating patients with his own sperm, among other charges. In 2014, when she was 35 years old, Jacoba took a 23AndMe DNA test and when her results came back as having seven half-siblings, she decided to investigate further. The documentary is an account by Jacoba Ballard and her 50+ half-siblings supposedly fathered by the disgraced and retired medical specialist. When he was using his own sperm in his medical practice, Cline most likely thought his crimes would never be uncovered. Jacoba is a mentor for Right To Know, an organization that pushes for legislatures to pass fertility fraud laws. Cline said he used his own sperm whenever he didnt The authorities who are investigating Dr. Cline have confirmed through DNA testing that two women were biological children of his. He apparently keeps a low profile and still has many supporters in the community. She shared: We actually had a new sibling pop up the day the trailer dropped. The trailer for Our Father dropped on in mid-April 2022. Ricou Browning cause of death: How did Ricou Browning die? 23andMe, the most well-known company that offers at-home DNA testing kits for individuals, launched in the United States in 2007. Dr. Donald Cline was not convicted with fraud or medical malpractice at the time he stood trial because, in the eyes of the law, he had done nothing illegal. Cline's half-sibling Matt White, whose mother Liz White visited Cline and was inseminated 15 times, today works as a biologist in Indianapolis, reports The Cinemaholic. When Matt White, another of Cline's biological children, and a bunch of half-siblings confronted Cline in 2016, he admitted to having used his own . He was ordered to pay a $500 fine but the one-year jail sentence against him was surprisingly suspended, due to the numerous letters the court . This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The doctor also told them that all his records were shredded and that he did not recall any additional details, according to the complaint. She appears alongside Julie Harmon (sibling 14), Matt White (17), Heather Woock (22), Lisa Shepherd-Stidham (33), Jason Hyatt (48), Carrie Foster (53), and Alison Kramer (61). 2022-04-22 05:00:01 - Paris/France. Dr. Donald Cline. Cline has remained silent about why he committed fertility fraud. No obituary has been found of Dr. Cline and no family member has shared details of funeral arrangements for him. A disgraced fertility doctor has fathered 94 children and counting by impregnating his patients with his own sperm. A retired math teacher from the UK says he is the worlds most prolific sperm donor. If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. How many children did Donald Cline have? They just haven't found them all yet. 2022-05-15 08:37:38 - Paris/France. News North Sports Indy 500 Things To Do Opinion Obituaries . During his years practicing fertility treatments, Donald deceived his clients on several occasions. And how Dr Donald Cline illegally stimulated more than 90 children. Dr. Donald Cline has been famous in the media as the fertility doctor who inseminated his sperm into several women without consent. Dr. Cline initially denied using his own sperm for insemination, prosecutors said, misleading the attorney generals office. In Our Father, Jacoba and several of her half-siblings recount their experience of shock, anger, their ultimate disbelief in finding out the truth, and the search for justice. Ballard with her half-siblings, Heather Woock and Carrie Foster, worked with NPR to create a podcast about their lives, called Sick. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 2016 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Because Cline's patients were from the same area in Indiana, most of his children also live relatively close to one another. "One, you're having to relive the whole thing. After she had made contact with her brothers and sisters, they delved deeper into their unusual family tree, unearthing a chilling connection between them and trusted fertility doctor and church elder Donald Cline. Through 23andMe and other similar genetic testing websites, three dozen half siblings of those women have been found, said Jacoba Ballard, 38, one of the biological daughters. As further DNA tests are concluded, the number is expected to increase a worrying concern for each of the siblings, many of whom happen to live within close proximity to one another. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Together, alongside their mothers and other advocates, they successfully campaigned to have laws passed criminalizing Clines' deeds. In an interview with The Guardian the director of Our Father, Lucie Jourdan, as well as Ballard say Cline is still alive. Fertility fraud is the failure on the part of a fertility doctor to obtain consent from a patient before inseminating her with his own sperm. Village Name. How many biological children did Dr. Donald Cline have? To date, 94 siblings have been found, not including Cline's children with . Dr. Donald Cline inseminated dozens of women with his own sperm without their knowledge or consent during the 1970s and 1980s. Jacoba has recently disclosed that more of her half-siblings keep showing up. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Is Dr Donald Cline still a doctor? Some have become friends and meet for coffee or lunch. Jacoba Ballard is Our Fathers protagonist, as the documentary traces her initial discovery, at 35-years-old, that she had seven half-siblings by taking a DNA test. "It's exciting that the fruits of those efforts are now available for everyone to see, but it's also nerve-wracking because everyone can now see.". Cline was a reputed fertility specialist during the 70s and 80s. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. It is very sickening to think he ran his practice up until the time he was about 70, said an unidentified donor child. A new law makes such . D. Ramaley of Donors with contact are open to having their partners and children know their donor-conceived offspring. Dr. Donald Cline, 77, admitted to six now-adult children that he'd used his sperm while treating their moms; he's facing two felony counts . Fearing the worst had come true, Jacoba and a few of her half-siblings met with Cline and the son he shared with his wife. He was a monster in the guise of a savior, and Lucie Jourdan's outraged . (Alyssa Schukar) By the 1970s, hundreds of doctors were performing . He was one of the first few in Indianapolis to have expertise in artificial insemination through fresh sperm. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. "I'm doing better than last year. Theres times I get really angry. Premiering on May 11, the Netflix and . The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. She was matched with seven half-siblings, instantly raising a red flag as the use of the same donor on more than three occasions went against best medical practices. Peaky Blinders's Cillian Murphy and his wife Yvonne McGuinness keep love life discreet, {{#media.media_details}} {{#media.focal_point}}. Ballard's parents used sperm donation to become pregnant. "It took a lot of guts and emotion for us to participate in this documentary," Heather tells WH. Many couples sought Dr. Cline out at his Indianapolis-area fertility clinic during the 1970s and 80s. You donate your sperm by ejaculating into a sterile container. As for Dr. Donald Cline, his punishment was a $500 fine, one year's probation, and his medical license was permanently revoked (via Daily Mail). His wife's name is Susie and she has also received gynecological treatment from her husband Donald Cline. Now, she's focusing on local advocacy work. It's also possible that there are more half-siblings out there. Mr. White and Ms. Ballard now both continually check websites like 23andMe to see if any new half siblings will emerge. Sulley Muntari, Agyeman Badu, Asamoah Gyan, others visit Christian Atsus family home, VIDEO: Government will be fully involved in providing Christian Atsu a befitting burial Dr. Bawumia, Christian Atsus mortal remains arrive in Ghana via Turkish Airlines, Maybe I created enemies along the line Kofi Amoabeng on UT Banks collapse, Christian Atsu was one of Ghanas finest personnel Akufo-Addo, This is some food chain story Archipalago shamed for chasing clout with Christian Atsus death. No, Donald Cline had his license revoked by the Medical Licensing Board of Indiana following his felony conviction in 2018. Their parents fertility doctor had been inseminating patients with his own sperm, without their knowledge or consent, between 1978 and 1988, resulting in the births of at least 94 children. Donald's fertility fraud continued for various years until police launched an investigation against him due to Jacoba Ballard searching for answers. 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