Have something to tell us about this article? Dr. Donald Cline inseminated dozens of women with his own sperm without their knowledge or consent during the 1970s and 1980s. If that figure was not haunting enough, at the end of Our Father on Netflix, a title card suggests this figure could be set to rise. She expects the number to grow. In addition to Cline, the documentary claims, there are 44 other doctors who have used their own sperm to impregnate their patients; they, too, were discovered through at-home DNA testing. Jacoba is a mentor for Right To Know, an organization that pushes for legislatures to pass fertility fraud laws. used his own sperm at least 50 times instead of donated sperm that his patients In the '70s and '80s, Donald Cline fathered more than 50 children by using his own sperm in his patients. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. In an interview with The Guardian the director of Our Father, Lucie Jourdan, as well as Ballard say Cline is still alive. However, there has not been any solid confirmation of his death or cause of death. By Sandra Yeboah May 13, 2022. "I have read people saying they weren't even aware of him and they live in the state of Indiana. Dr. Donald Cline is still living as a free man in Indianapolis, Indiana according to a 2019 report from The Atlantic. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". And in 2009, Dr. Ben. These Pregnant Celebrities Have Due Dates In 2023, Shop Amazons Massive Sale On Power Banks. NetflixIndiana fertility specialist Dr. Donald Cline has never served a day in prison. 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). at least eight other people in its database, the affidavit said. And, as Our Father goes on, the number of half-siblings Jacoba continues to find only climbs higher and higher. But Cline is now an octogenarian, and he had already retired before his license was taken away. When Jacoba Ballard took a DNA test, she had no idea the results would come back with seven matches. 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. I want laws changed, I want medical professionals to be held accountable, Ms. Ballard said. D. Ramaley of But as Ballard says, she believes there are more of Cline's kids out there. A Fertility Doctor Used His Sperm on Unwitting Women. It was common for doctors to pick the sperm donors they thought would be best for each patient. It is currently unknown if Donald and Susie are still married. 'Bachelor' Spoilers 2023: Who Does Zach Pick? How many children does Cline have and where are they now? Attorney Generals Office. Her mother, Deborah Pierce, was artificially inseminated by Dr. Donald Cline, and Ballard thought there might be one or two other people conceived from the same donor, according to The Atlantic and ABC30 News.She found her first sibling on an online forum for donor-conceived children, where she connected . It's also possible that there are more half-siblings out there. As Indiana lawmakers first prepared to hold a hearing to discuss a proposed fertility fraud bill, Matt drafted letters to send to individual members. Many hopeful . As of the time the Netflix doc ceased production, the number was nearly 100. Coolio funeral, burial service, pictures, date, time, venue. He Alongside her siblings, they did a series of ancestry.com searches, constructed family trees, and contacted distant family members, eventually leading them to Cline. 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. But with the introduction of DNA technology, it was quite literally impossible for him to deny how many children he had truly created. His practice was located in Indianapolis, where several patients would consult him regarding pregnancy matters. (Since the documentary, Indiana and a few other states have finally passed laws making fertility fraud a crime. We discuss who Donald Clines wife is and what she thought about his actions and reveal how many kids Cline has. Cline has remained silent about why he committed fertility fraud. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. And since 2019, the number has climbed higher and higher. Can you record your spouse without consent in California? So, how many children does Donald Cline really have? Every product was carefully curated by an Esquire editor. Ms. Ballard and Mr. White are now pressuring state lawmakers to pass a law that would explicitly make it a crime for doctors to use their own sperm in such cases. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Women's Health may earn commission from the links on this page, but we only feature products we believe in. How many children did Donald Cline have? Newsweek has everything you need to know. Advocate Name. That we wouldnt maybe date? "It took a lot of guts and emotion for us to participate in this documentary," Heather tells WH. Did you really thinkthat we wouldnt meet? In December, Dr. Cline pleaded guilty to two felony obstruction of justice charges, acknowledging that he lied to state investigators when denying the accusations that he used his own sperm. Where the Half-Siblings from 'Our Father' Are Now, The 26 True Crime Books Everyone Needs to Read, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. 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. He lost his medical license and did not serve jail time, Indiana did not have laws specific to fertility fraud. When he was using his own sperm in his medical practice, Cline most likely thought his crimes would never be uncovered. Donald Cline WTTV-TV Ballard took a 23andMe test in 2014, and learned she . 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. Both of these theories have never been proven. Below, catch up on where a few of the 94 half-siblings are now: During her investigation, Jacoba met Cline and his family in person. Case Number. Maybe he wanted to succeed in his field and thought that his radical methods were helping patients. As the Cline children unfortunately found out, living too close to too many of your close relatives can create problems. As one person says in Our Father's trailer, "Dr. Cline was the best infertility doctor in Indianapolis." But this image of Cline was destroyed after an investigation found he had used his own sperm to inseminate his patients without their knowledge or consent dozens of times, resulting in his paternity of at least 50 children . After she contacts her brothers and sisters, they join forces to investigate their family tree, which eventually leads them to Cline, who admits to being their biological father. Filing Number. One scroll through 23andMe later, and she realized she had seven half-siblings she'd never met before. He had an estimated 94 children. INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) - 13 Investigates has talked directly with another family who believes they are likely the very first victims of Indianapolis fertility expert Dr. Donald Cline. Dr. Donald Cline's Wife, Girlfriend & Relationships. The story of donor children searching for answers, of the siblings they never knew they . He also does not acknowledge the paternity of his 94 children, exclaiming in one recording: "I don't look at these people and consider them to be my children.". Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). Dr. Donald Cline is still living as a free man in Indianapolis, Indiana according to a 2019 report from The Atlantic. Four of the half-siblings filed a complaint about Clines actions to Indianas attorney general, leading to a criminal investigation. Between 1972 and 1988, Cline, without his patient's knowledge or consent, used his own sperm during artificial insemination procedures. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. But when Jacoba Ballard, who knew shed been conceived via donor sperm, set out in 2014 to look into her own ancestry, she accidentally stumbled into his dark, deep secretand 94 and counting of her own half-siblings, also fathered by their mothers fertility doctor. Many decades later, Cline's numerous children are finally discovering the horror of just how many kids he actually fathered, reports Netflix. Through 23andMe, the women discovered that there were eight half siblings, contradicting Dr. Clines assertion that the sperm was used for only three pregnancies. He married Rachel Kravetz, now a renowned scientist and clinical psychologist in areas including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, in 1967. Where Is Jacoba Ballard From 'Our Father' Now? Premiering on May 11, the Netflix and . She found the first seven half-siblings after she used a DNA kit, but she suspected there was more to the story; not everyone has tested their genetic ancestry. 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. As far as peace of mind? director Lucie Jourdan interviews many of Cline's biological children, . Indiana later became the first US state to make it a criminal offence for fertility doctors to use their own sperm without a patients consent. Netflix. Ms. Ballard said she was trying to contact them to explain the story. And in 2019, a new law was finally created to make fertility fraud illegal (via Legiscan). "I'm doing better than last year. And how Dr Donald Cline illegally stimulated more than 90 children. Donald Lee Cline (born December 10, 1938) is a convicted felon and an American former medical doctor of obstetrics and gynaecology. May 22, 2022 4:38 p.m. PT. Netflix documentary Our Father revolves around former Indianapolis-based fertility specialist Dr. Donald Cline and the reported 94 children he fathered by inseminating their mothers with his . Netflix's new documentary exposes the shocking plot that Dr Donald Cline implemented in the late 70s and 80s - but where is he now? When Cline, nearly 80, was first accused, he denied the charges. 2021 Associated Newspapers Limited. Many of them live within a tight radius of one another in Indiana, and unfortunately close to Cline. So I'm hoping it reaches more people, more patients. Type above and press Enter to search. By Quinci LeGardye. Cline actually confessed to using his own sperm in his patients. How many children did Dr Donald Cline have? His elder daughter Donna Stein has also worked with his father at his clinic as a Registered Nurse. To date, 94 siblings have been found, not including Cline's children with . cooperating with the attorney generals investigation. 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 . In other news, Peaky Blinders's Cillian Murphy and his wife Yvonne McGuinness keep love life discreet. The doctors actions were revealed by one of his children, Jacoba Ballard. Was Dr. Donald Cline Convicted of Any Crimes? Aside from the Our Father documentary, Donald's whereabouts are unaccounted for in the media. The case against Dr. Cline, and the quest for answers, have been complicated by Indiana state law. Dr. Cline initially denied using his own sperm for insemination, prosecutors said, misleading the attorney generals office. Cline became a popular doctor because he used fresh sperm, instead of frozen, which seemed to result in higher pregnancy rates in his patients. What autoimmune disease did Dr Cline have? Sperm banks are always looking for a variety of donors because everyones got different criteria theyre looking at.. He was fined $500, sentenced to a year of probation, and lost his medical license, although hed already been retired for nearly a decade. Upon finding out, she said she felt as if she had been raped 15 times by Cline. INDIANAPOLIS- A retired Indianapolis fertility doctor The doctor's actions were revealed by one of his children, Jacoba Ballard. 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. 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. His actions [] It was an unexpected family reunion of the worst kind. Jacoba Ballard in "Our Father." BREAKING! "This is so weird," she recalls thinking. Where will be Ricou Browning buried? Cline was ultimately charged with two counts of obstruction of justice. Is Dr Donald Cline still a doctor? My heart breaks for all the mothers who were violated by this narcissist. And two, it's almost like you know that you're ruining their life, and then you're going to turn around and support to help them rebuild it," she tells WH. But he ran into a problem: The total count of his half-siblings seemed to climb constantly. Some patients would also use their husband's sperm. The story of the Indianapolis doctor, Donald L. Cline, who inseminated his patients with his own sperm, is coming to Netflix on May 11. All rights reserved. Im a young writer who is passionate about blogging. Cline suddenly had no excuse for the many children that looked like him (via The Atlantic). Dr. Donald Cline has fathered 94 children and counting. Dr Donald Cline was previously praised as one of Indianapolis's best fertility doctors throughout the '70s and '80s. At the end, its revealed that there are at least 94 Cline siblings. Im confused. Many of Cline's biological "children" including Jacoba Ballard reached out to their half-siblings and put pressure on the local media and authorities for accountability in the case. And sometimes they think about how many more half-siblings are out there, yet to take a DNA test that would prove Clines paternity, and whether their children might date each other unawares. However, today there is still no federal law that makes Clines' acts a criminal offense. It does not store any personal data. As per the documentary, via Distractify, after meeting with Jacoba Ballard, Donald reached out to her again to tell her that digging up the past was destroying his marriage because his wife considered his actions to be adultery. Between 1972 and 1988, fertility doctor Donald Cline inseminated his patients with his own sperm without their knowledge or consent, leading to the births of many children. But thats not the perfect donor for everyone. Not a lot is known about Susie, nor her marriage to Cline, but the doc does confirm that they had two children together, Donna and Doug. 2023 Ghanafuo.com & DM Network. From the 1970s through the 1990s, Donald Cline was a renowned fertility specialist in Indiana. You just relive this nightmare, every single time, she said. Took a 23andMe test in 2014, and unfortunately close to Cline ( ). Trying to contact them to explain the story of donor children searching for answers have... Convicted felon and an American former medical doctor of obstetrics and gynaecology, it was quite literally impossible for to... Cillian Murphy and his wife Yvonne McGuinness keep love life discreet used to understand visitors. Patients would consult him regarding pregnancy matters news, Peaky Blinders 's Cillian Murphy and his wife Yvonne McGuinness love. Insemination procedures and Since 2019, a new law was finally created to make fraud! 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