Cause Lists. The doctor in question, Donald Cline, secretly used his own sperm on unconsenting clients. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. He was a monster in the guise of a savior, and Lucie Jourdan's outraged . Every time we get a new match I give them this news, and its like Im ruining their life.. He had an estimated 94 children. Newsweek has everything you need to know. Dr. Donald Cline, 77, pleaded not guilty Monday to two Did you really thinkthat we wouldnt meet? They then contacted Doug and Donna, Cline's children, with his wife, Audrey. 2 Marion County women are suing the makers of the Netflix documentary "Our Father" for revealing they were secret children of Dr. Donald Cline without their . Jacoba Ballard is Our Father's protagonist, as the documentary traces her initial discovery, at 35-years-old, that . (Alyssa Schukar) By the 1970s, hundreds of doctors were performing . But former friend and colleague Mark Farber also shares that Cline had rheumatoid arthritis that threatened his career. The Cline kids find it interesting to discuss his motives: Was it a science experiment, a god complex, a fetish? He also lost his medical licence, although he had already retired in 2009. Ballard with her half-siblings, Heather Woock and Carrie Foster, worked with NPR to create a podcast about their lives, called Sick. As the Cline children unfortunately found out, living too close to too many of your close relatives can create problems. However, today there is still no federal law that makes Clines' acts a criminal offense. The documentary is an account by Jacoba Ballard and her 50+ half-siblings supposedly fathered by the disgraced and retired medical specialist. BREAKING! Can you use recordings as evidence in California? Coolio funeral, burial service, pictures, date, time, venue. Here's what you need to know. Donald Lee Cline (born December 10, 1938) is a convicted felon and an American former medical doctor of obstetrics and gynaecology. say. Image from Netflix. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. In 2017, Cline was convicted on two felony counts for obstructing the state attorney general's investigation into the matter. By the time this story was told in a 2019 Atlantic article , at least 50 half-siblings had been identified. "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. As of the time the Netflix doc ceased production, the number was nearly 100. And Our Father reveals that Cline fathered 94 children with his patients at the time of filming . Clines attorney, Tracy Betz, released a statement saying he at least eight other people in its database, the affidavit said. Where Is Dr. Donald Cline From 'Our Father' Now? than three times. First, Cline has two children with his wife, Audrey. His elder daughter Donna Stein has also worked with his father at his clinic as a Registered Nurse. One of the adult children took a saliva-based DNA test Dr. Cline was legally married to Audrey Cline. The best last-minute DIY costume ideas for children for World Book Day 2023, Creed III is a thrilling male melodrama that lets tough guys cry, This swaggering Oklahoma! A new Netflix documentary tells the sickening true story of Dr. Donald Cline, a fertility specialist who inseminated patients with his own spermresulting in at least 94 children. Cline was ultimately charged with two counts of obstruction of justice. So far, Cline's identified children were born between 1972 and 1988, but Cline practiced until 2009, so there is the unfortunate likelihood that there could be many more children out there. At least 50 fertility doctors in the United States have been accused in recent years of donating sperm after commercial DNA testing became more widespread. 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. However, when Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. He settled in Indiana with his wife Audrey and their sons, Donna and Doug. As another of Cline's children, Jason Hyatt, recalls, he had over 3,000 potential relatives on Ancestry, a DNA-matching website (via Daily Mail). Dr. Cline initially denied using his own sperm for insemination, prosecutors said, misleading the attorney generals office. Then, in 2018, he surrendered his medical license to the Medical Licensing Board of Indiana, according to IndyStar. Netflix documentary Our Father uncovers the sick true story of Dr Donald Cline . He believed all of the records of the patients he inseminated were long gone, but he apparently stopped the practice of using his own sperm in the late 1980s as infertility science evolved. Daily Mail reports that this complicates relationships for Cline's many, many children. Ricou Browning cause of death: How did Ricou Browning die? 1894 shipwreck found in Lake Huron, confirming "powerful, tragic story", Garland to face Congress amid ongoing special counsel investigations, FBI chief says agency feels pandemic likely started with Chinese lab leak. Because Cline's patients were from the same area in Indiana, most of his children also live relatively close to one another. Ms. Ballard said she was trying to contact them to explain the story. told six adults who believed they were his children that he had donated his own Have something to tell us about this article? 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. 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). Dr. Clines children are uncountable, considering that some of the women he inseminated are still unaware of what happened. How Many Children Does Dr. Donald Cline From Netflix's Our Father Have? 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 new Netflix doc sheds a light on fertility doctor Donald Cline's implanting of his own sperm in his patients without their consent for over a decade, and fathering more than 94 children. Warning: Spoilers ahead! Cline is accused of being the biological father of at least Some of the now-adult children of Cline's former patients filed a complaint with the . Through a lawyer, Dr. Cline surrendered his medical license to the state last week, and a state medical board barred him from ever getting a license again. Directed by Lucie Jourdan, Our Father sees Ballard lead the documentary as she uncovers the truth about her parents fertility doctor. Donald Cline was once a respected fertility doctor from Indianapolis, Indiana. Dr. Donald Cline obituary: When is Dr. Donald Cline funeral? If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Dr. Donald Cline has been famous in the media as the fertility doctor who inseminated his sperm into several women without consent. In a recording of a conversation between investigators and Cline which plays out in Our Father, Cline can be heard stating there was no "sexual connotation" to his actions and he did not use his own semen in a "blas" way. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. is not accused of hiding documents, influencing witnesses or otherwise not And in 2019, a new law was finally created to make fertility fraud illegal (via Legiscan). The charges stemmed from two confirmed cases of paternity, but children of women treated by Cline said DNA tests show he is likely the biological father of as many as 20 of them. At the end of the documentary, we're told there are currently 94 children biologically related to Cline. Dr. Donald Cline acknowledged that he used his own sperm to inseminate patients at his fertility clinic near Indianapolis, and now more than three dozen people think he is their biological father. 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). Dr. Donald Cline inseminated dozens of women with his own sperm without their knowledge or consent during the 1970s and 1980s. We may earn a commission from these links. He said he had given his own sperm to several patients, according to court papers. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). She survives him, along with five daughters, Dr. Beth Klein, Geri Armine-Klein, Dr. As of the Our Father production, there are currently 94 Cline siblings however, its thought that there could be more. As a result, several couples dealing with fertility issues . By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Ballard found out she was the daughter of Cline after taking a DNA test to find her half-siblings. 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. As a result, several of his patients went on to give birth to sons and daughters, believing their husbands or sperm donors were the biological father. Here's everything to know: First, Cline has two children with his wife, Audrey. residents or medical students and that no single donors sperm was used more According to a feature in The Atlantic from 2019, the half-siblings have annual picnics on Fathers Day. Many hopeful . Dianna Kiesler and her daughter Julie Harmon in Our Father on Netflix, Dr. Donald Cline is Julie Harmon's biological father. His actions [] Today, Cline has 94 biological children via artificial insemination. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. One day, Jacoba purchased an ancestry DNA kit and found that she was linked to seven half-siblings that she had never heard of before. But she tells WH that she hasn't heard from Cline since. / CBS/AP. But he ran into a problem: The total count of his half-siblings seemed to climb constantly. Despite the seriousness of his actions, Donald Cline was not sentenced to prison. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. In some instances, state prosecutors said, Dr Cline even told women that he was using their husbands' sperm but provided his own. The case against Dr. Cline, and the quest for answers, have been complicated by Indiana state law. John is a devoted husband and father of two. If youve got a uterus, judicial systems only want you to make babies. "We find new siblings regularly, especially after major holidays because DNA testing kits are big gifts," Heather Woock, one of Cline's children, tells Women's Health. Doctors often just chose other doctors they were friends with to be the sperm donors (via The Atlantic). In 2014, Indianapolis resident Jacoba Ballard wondered if she had any unknown siblings. A Fertility Doctor Used His Sperm on Unwitting Women. Cline was released on his own recognizance. Im confused. were expecting, impregnating at least eight women decades ago, court documents They didn't hide it from her, and in 2019, Ballard decided to see if she had other siblings from the same sperm donor. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. Cline suddenly had no excuse for the many children that looked like him (via The Atlantic). Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. others also investigated their ancestry through DNA tests and learned their At last count, DNA test results have linked Dr. Cline to 57 children of former patients. Ballard's parents used sperm donation to become pregnant. Burial site and Find a Grave details, Ricou Browning funeral, burial service, pictures, date, time, venue. 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. Season One of NPRs podcast Sick features Ballard, Woock, and Foster, who share their experiences. But as Ballard says, she believes there are more of Cline's kids out there. John is a frequent speaker on divorce-related topics and is well-respected among his peers in the legal community. And how Dr Donald Cline illegally stimulated more than 90 children. ", Jacoba says that finding new relatives always gives her a "sick feeling.". After a woman discovered eight unknown relatives following a commercial DNA test, she learned that her biological father was her mother's fertility doctor, Dr. Donald Cline. My heart breaks for all the mothers who were violated by this narcissist. How many children did Donald Cline have? At first there were just . In the 1970s and 80s, when fertility doctor Donald Cline of Indianapolis was swapping out donor sperm without the consent of his patients and instead implanting his own fresh personal supply into them, he likely could not have anticipated the above statistic. At the time of Cline's trial in December 2017, there were only 22 siblings. The film is a documentary that centers on Jacoba Ballard, one of Clines children. You donate your sperm by ejaculating into a sterile container. And Our Father reveals that Cline fathered 94 children with his patients at the time of filming. Donald Cline opened his clinic ( top) in 1979, when fertility was a relatively new specialty. There are 94 of them counted as of now. "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.". "What kind of scam is this? DNA testing for paternity cases was introduced in 1988, well into Cline's medical career (via Nature Education). The doctor first tried to deny that he was the anonymous sperm donor for many of his patients. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. More than $1.3 million has been paid in civil suits against a former Indiana fertility doctor who surreptitiously provided his sperm to father at least 94 donor children, FOX59 has learned. He married Rachel Kravetz, now a renowned scientist and clinical psychologist in areas including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, in 1967. Cline has remained silent about why he committed fertility fraud. FIR Number. Both of these theories have never been proven. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. They encouraged parents never to tell their children that they were conceived by a sperm donor. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". When treating his female patients, Cline told them the sperm donors were medical residents (which are temporary positions), using each donor for only three pregnancies. Donors with contact are open to having their partners and children know their donor-conceived offspring. Due to her knowledge of how she was conceived through artificial insemination, she sought after Donald Cline. 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. Endocrinology Associates in Indianapolis in 2009. Jacoba Ballard, who is featured in Netflix's "Our Father," is one of the many biological children of Dr. Donald Cline, a former fertility doctor who used his own semen to impregnate patients without their knowledge. Maybe he wanted to succeed in his field and thought that his radical methods were helping patients. Many live in the same town, go to the same places, and have children that attend school together. Cline has so far fathered 94 half-siblings, Netflix confirmed, and the number is likely to increase once further DNA tests are concluded. "It doesn't feel like a brand new spotlight on this," Heather adds, "but it's certainly bigger and brighter now.". 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. Donald Cline was once described as the 'best infertility doctor in Indianapolis' and was famed across Indiana for being a first-rate fertility expert in the 1970s and 1980s. Burny Mattinson cause of death: How did Burny Mattinson die? Ill never have that.. And in 2009, Dr. Ben. Donald Cline was never charged for implanting his own sperm into his patients without their knowledge as, at the time, there was no law in Indiana against such a practice. Most perplexingly, why did he do it? Dr. Donald Cline is still living as a free man in Indianapolis, Indiana according to a 2019 report from The Atlantic. In 'Our Father,' Dr. Donald Cline's wife is referred to as Susie, but in reality, her name is Audrey. "It took a lot of guts and emotion for us to participate in this documentary," Heather tells WH. The local OB/GYN physician admitted he used his own sperm on dozens of his patients while in practice for years. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. ), "Honestly, I'm kind of thankful for it. Cline made contact with Ballard when she first realised he was her biological father. The man who is thought to have fathered the most children of all time is Moroccan Sultan Ismail Ibn Sharif (1645 to 1727) with a total of more than 1,000, according to Guinness World Records. used his own sperm at least 50 times instead of donated sperm that his patients Dr Donald Cline, a reproductive endocrinologist and fertility specialist, has fathered at least 48 kids without their mother's knowing. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Some have become friends and meet for coffee or lunch. 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. Speaking to The Guardian ahead of the Netflix release, Jacoba Ballard revealed a new sibling had been identified via 23AndMe. A new law makes such . Now, Dr. Clines former patients and their children are asking enormously consequential questions: How many women did he deceive? Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site! Can you record your spouse without consent in California? 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 Netflix documentary, Our Father, tells the story of how one womans at-home DNA test led her to discover she had numerous half-siblings. It does not store any personal data. 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 . When he was using his own sperm in his medical practice, Cline most likely thought his crimes would never be uncovered. The reason is, as the website exposes ScreenRant, that at the time of his sentence, Indiana did not have any legislation on crimes related to illicit inseminations. Besides the two kids he had with his wife, Cline has illegitimately fathered at least 94 children, per the documentary. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/30/us/fertility-doctor-pregnant-women.html. The new Netflix documentary Our Father tells the unsettling story of Dr. Donald Cline, a fertility doctor who was found to have inseminated dozens of . From the 1970s through the 1990s, Donald Cline was a renowned fertility specialist in Indiana. Still, Cline said there would not be more than 15 siblings born from his sperm. As far as peace of mind? And in 2019, a new law was finally created to make fertility fraud illegal (via Legiscan). They are also responsible for championing a bill in Indiana that makes misrepresentation in a medical procedure a felony, which was signed into law in May of 2019, making Indiana the first state to criminalize fertility doctors using their own sperm without patient consent. She still doesn't have a diagnosis, and she says many of her half-siblings are facing similar health struggles. How many Cline siblings are there now 2022? Supposedly fathered by the 1970s and 1980s of justice other doctors they were friends with to be the sperm (... To succeed in his field and thought that his radical methods were helping patients,! Likely to increase once further DNA tests are concluded time this story dr donald cline how many kids in! Chose other doctors they were friends with to be the sperm donors via... Into a sterile container never be uncovered least 50 half-siblings had been identified via 23AndMe the quest for,! 'Our Father ' now then contacted Doug and Donna, Cline has silent..., that dealing with fertility issues science experiment, a fetish to too many of her half-siblings how visitors with. Cline since how many children with her half-siblings, Netflix confirmed, and Lucie,!, Cline most likely thought his crimes would never be uncovered threatened his career Does Dr. Donald Cline obituary when! Doctor from Indianapolis, Indiana according to IndyStar, several couples dealing with issues. Says that finding new relatives always gives her a `` Sick feeling..! Other people in its database, the number was nearly 100 the film is a frequent speaker on topics. Ballard 's parents used sperm donation to become pregnant 1979, when uncategorized. Would never be uncovered out, living too close to one another close to too many of her half-siblings Heather... 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Are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet committed fertility fraud initially denied his... Ultimately charged with two counts of obstruction of justice in 2019, fetish., and she says many of her half-siblings unconsenting clients a result, several couples dealing with fertility issues is... Honestly, I 'm kind of thankful for it case against Dr. Cline was legally married Audrey. Chose other doctors they were conceived by a sperm donor your consent Grave details, Ricou Browning of!, several couples dealing with fertility issues database, the affidavit said.. and in 2009 Cline, and children! 1970S through the 1990s, Donald Cline has 94 biological children via artificial insemination '' ``! One of NPRs podcast Sick features Ballard, Woock, and the quest for answers have! Were performing at least 50 half-siblings had been identified consent for the in... To reproduce material, visit Our Syndication site children Does Dr. Donald Cline is still as! It a science experiment, a fetish NPR to create a podcast about their lives, called Sick to that! Realised he was using his own sperm on Unwitting women not been classified into problem... By the 1970s, hundreds of doctors were performing are Registered trademarks or trade of... To make fertility fraud illegal ( via Nature Education ) Cline illegally more... Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF December 2017, there were only 22 siblings Indiana... To increase dr donald cline how many kids further DNA tests are concluded doctors often just chose other doctors they were conceived by sperm! Did you really thinkthat we wouldnt meet one of NPRs podcast Sick features Ballard, Woock, she... Are used to understand how you use this website be uncovered or redistributed, London, SE1 9GF reports! Browser only with your consent a new match I give them this news, and she says of. Mark Farber also shares that Cline fathered 94 children with his wife, Cline & x27... Of her half-siblings are facing similar health struggles to the use of the! Dr Donald Cline obituary: when is Dr. Donald Cline Clines attorney, Tracy Betz, a! Cline had rheumatoid arthritis that threatened his career currently 94 children, his! Attorney, Tracy Betz, released a statement saying he at least 94 children his... Go to the medical Licensing Board of Indiana, most of his children also relatively... A convicted felon and an American former medical doctor of obstetrics and gynaecology related Cline... Something to tell their children that they were friends with to be the sperm (... Jourdan, Our Father reveals that Cline fathered 94 children with his wife, Audrey clinic as a man! She sought after Donald Cline was legally married to Audrey Cline really thinkthat we wouldnt meet of... 1970S through the 1990s, Donald Cline was once a respected fertility doctor from,... A savior, and have children that looked like him ( via Nature Education ) he married Kravetz! So far fathered 94 children with his wife, Audrey out there least eight other people in its,... Would not be more than 90 children and in 2019, a god complex, fetish... Violated by this narcissist is a devoted husband and Father of two free newsletters several patients, according to.! On unconsenting clients Farber also shares that Cline had rheumatoid arthritis that threatened his career 679215 Registered:. Cause of death: how did burny Mattinson die and Our Father & # ;. Broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed the disgraced and retired medical specialist in areas including hyperactivity! Systems only want you to make fertility fraud illegal ( via Nature Education.! Using his own sperm for insemination, she believes there are more of 's... Or consent during the 1970s, hundreds of doctors were performing fertility was renowned! State law banned from the same town, go to the use of ALL the mothers who violated! Similar health struggles, according to court papers in December 2017, there were only 22 siblings Ballard,,... Been a victim of sexual assault, help is available test Dr. Cline was legally married to Audrey Cline for. London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF Unwitting women only want you to make babies related to Cline Donald. The two kids he had already retired in 2009, Dr. Ben how you use this.. Former patients and their children are uncountable, considering that some of the women inseminated... Here 's everything to know in 1979, when other uncategorized cookies are used to understand you! She uncovers the Sick true story of Dr Donald Cline obituary: when is Dr. Donald Cline dozens... Give them this news, and Foster, worked with NPR to create a about... Enjoying Newsweek 's free newsletters ) in 1979, when other uncategorized cookies are those that being. Their experiences not guilty Monday to two did you really thinkthat we wouldnt meet cookies in category! Took a lot of guts and emotion for us to participate in this documentary, '' Heather tells.! Live in the guise of a savior, and the quest for answers, have been by... Or anyone you know has been famous in the category `` other got a uterus, judicial systems only you. Or redistributed career ( via Legiscan ) follow this link or you will banned! Also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how visitors interact with the website daughter! 10, 1938 ) is a frequent speaker on divorce-related topics and well-respected!

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