When Indiana fertility doctor Dr. Donald Cline was charged with obstruction of justice in the fall of 2016, . Indiana became the first state in the U.S. to make it illegal for fertility doctors to use their own sperm without a patient's consent. Continue reading this article which delivers interesting information about Donald Cline. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Donald Cline, an Indiana fertility doctor who used his own sperm to artificially inseminate dozens of patients without their consent, has been confirmed to be the father to at least 48 children . Greenwich, Connecticut, quickly settled a 2005 lawsuit for using his own sperm. 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. Case Number. Dr. Donald Cline is still living as a free man in Indianapolis, Indiana according to a 2019 report from The Atlantic. He was fined $500, sentenced to a year of probation, and lost his medical license, although hed already been retired for nearly a decade. Former fertility specialist, Donald Cline, is the biological father of an estimated 50 plus children Who is Donald Cline? Cline's daughter Jacoba Ballard is the central figure in Netflix's Our Father. Village Name. It does not store any personal data. 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. The doctor also told them that all his records were shredded and that he did not recall any additional details, according to the complaint. Some siblings met at a yard sale, while others realized they went to college together. "I'm doing better than last year. Speaking to The Guardian ahead of the Netflix release, Jacoba Ballard revealed a new sibling had been identified via 23AndMe. According to Netflix, Cline inseminated at least 50 people with his own sperm without their consent, and he has at least 50 children, proven by DNA tests. 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. By the time this story was told in a 2019 Atlantic article , at least 50 half-siblings had been identified. ", Jacoba says that finding new relatives always gives her a "sick feeling.". A new law makes such . How many kids does Dr Cline have? Cline was not criminally charged with his actions but was charged with obstructing justice by denying the allegations and received a $500 fine. Cline retired from his practice at Reproductive Most men who want to donate sperm can only donate enough for 25 live births per a population of 800,000, as the American Society for Reproductive Medicine recommends. BREAKING! In 'Our Father,' Dr. Donald Cline's wife is referred to as Susie, but in reality, her name is Audrey. 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. Was Dr. Donald Cline Convicted of Any Crimes? This means that when assets are divided during the divorce process, the other spouse is legally entitled to half of the value , Admissibility of Recorded Conversations in California Typically, recorded conversations are inadmissible in court as hearsay. The client's husbands would provide sperm for the insemination procedure, but Dr. Donald Cline would discard it and replace it with his own to impregnate their wives. Theres no hiding. In his free time, he enjoys hiking and exploring the beautiful state of Maine. When asked why he used his own sperm in his patients, Cline said he was only trying to help desperate mothers and families. Then, in 2018, he surrendered his medical license to the Medical Licensing Board of Indiana, according to IndyStar. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Jacoba who felt she didnt belong in her family took a DNA test at the age of 33 in 2014. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot loses reelection bid, Fiery train crash in Greece kills dozens, many of them students. Every time we get a new match I give them this news, and its like Im ruining their life.. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). Why Trust Us? Is Dr Donald Cline still a doctor? 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. How do I get a copy of my Nebraska birth certificate? I can emphatically say that at no time did I ever use But thats not the perfect donor for everyone. cooperating with the attorney generals investigation. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Without the consent of his patients, the doctor would replace sperm donations with his own sperm from time to time. Unfortunately, Our Father is very much based on a true story. 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. Today, Jacoba Ballard is a mentor for those who have been donor-conceived or "doctor-deceived," she told The Guardian. And in 2019, a new law was finally created to make fertility fraud illegal (via Legiscan). John is a frequent speaker on divorce-related topics and is well-respected among his peers in the legal community. But Cline is now an octogenarian, and he had already retired before his license was taken away. Cline has so far fathered 94 half-siblings, Netflix confirmed, and the number is likely to increase once further DNA tests are concluded. Upon finding out, she said she felt as if she had been raped 15 times by Cline. MYTH: Sperm from tall, attractive men is the most desirable. American Society for Reproductive Medicine. He was one of the first few in Indianapolis to have expertise in artificial insemination through fresh sperm. A judge suspended the former doctor's sentence, though Cline did pay a $500 fine and court costs, which totaled $185. Many decades later, Cline's numerous children are finally discovering the horror of just how many kids he actually fathered, reports Netflix. Cline actually confessed to using his own sperm in his patients. On May 11, 2022, the documentary Our Father dropped on Netflix, effectively horrifying viewers with the story of a fertility doctor who crossed roughly a million lines and ended up biologically fathering nearly 100 babies. Jacoba and several of her half-siblings share their difficulties in coming to terms with the shocking revelation. Email us atexclusive@the-sun.comor call212 416 4552. At the time of Cline's December 2017 trial, there were only 22 known half-siblings that he had fathered. Though he fathered almost a hundred people without their parents consent, Dr. Donald Cline was still living in his home town of Indianapolis, Indiana, as recently as 2019, according to The Atlantic. In the final moments of the documentary, its revealed that as of production on Our Father, Cline is known to have fathered at least 94 children from his insemination practices and that that number is most likely not final. They encouraged parents never to tell their children that they were conceived by a sperm donor. Following law enforcement's investigation into Donald's fertility fraud, he was convicted twice on charges of obstruction of justice in 2017. If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. "There was a period of time, I didn't know if I was going to make it. "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.". And in 2019, a new law was finally created to make fertility fraud illegal (via Legiscan). She shared: "We actually had a new sibling pop up the day the trailer dropped.". This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Many live in the same town, go to the same places, and have children that attend school together. Dr. Donald Cline is still living as a free man in Indianapolis, Indiana according to a 2019 report from The Atlantic. Mr. White and Ms. Ballard now both continually check websites like 23andMe to see if any new half siblings will emerge. 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. How Many Children Does Dr. Donald Cline From Netflix's Our Father Have? Where is Dr. Donald Cline now? They didn't hide it from her, and in 2019, Ballard decided to see if she had other siblings from the same sperm donor. He was a monster in the guise of a savior, and Lucie Jourdan's outraged . mothers both were patients of Cline and that they were related to 70 relatives They said in the complaint that, in researching their origins, they had discovered through a genetic testing website that they were half siblings, and had all been conceived using sperm from Dr. Clines office. The film explains how Jacoba turned her personal investigation into a media frenzy and, eventually, real legislative change. 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. Because Cline's patients were from the same area in Indiana, most of his children also live relatively close to one another. through a private personal genomics company and found that she was related to Cline is accused of being the biological father of at least How many biological children did Dr. Donald Cline have? This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. And Our Father reveals that Cline fathered 94 children with his patients at the time of filming. What happened to Donald Cline's children? Now, she's focusing on local advocacy work. May 22, 2022 4:38 p.m. PT. A Decades-Old Doctor's Secret Leads to New Fertility-Fraud Law. The simple answer is no, it is not legal to record your spouse unless that person consents to being recorded. In other news, Peaky Blinders's Cillian Murphy and his wife Yvonne McGuinness keep love life discreet. 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. The lawsuits claim the hit documentary identified them as secret children of disgraced former Indianapolis fertility doctor, Dr. Donald Cline. Meanwhile, two On May 11, 2022, Netflix released a documentary titled Our Father that retells Donald's misdeeds. 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. Many hopeful . However, when Ricou Browning cause of death: How did Ricou Browning die? Since his own DNA results connected him to Cline, Matt and his mother Liz have fought tirelessly to get fertility fraud laws on legislative dockets across the U.S. .css-26w0xw{display:block;font-family:NationalBold,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:bold;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-26w0xw:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-26w0xw{font-size:1.18581rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.625rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-26w0xw{line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-26w0xw{font-size:1.28598rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-26w0xw{font-size:1.575rem;line-height:1.1;margin-bottom:-0.5rem;}}How To Avoid Unexpected Health Bills, Where Is Elizabeth Holmes Now? Where Is Dr. Donald Cline From 'Our Father' Now? At the end of the documentary, we're told there are currently 94 children biologically related to Cline. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Donald Cline has two children from his marriage with Audrey and reportedly 94 other children from insemination. Jourdan adds: Hes going to grandchildrens swim meets and things like that. In his head, I dont think he thinks hes done much wrong.. 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 . 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. Lastly, this user believes the 94 children did not get the justice they deserved as Clines patients: I just watched Our Father in Netflix and my blood boils knowing the victims who happen to be, unfortunately, his 94 children (and counting), and plenty innocent women, didn't get the justice they so well deserve. Donald Cline is a fertility doctor from Indiana (USA) responsible for inseminating dozens John Groove has over 20 years of experience specializing in divorce and family law. The test showed that their family doctor, Dr. Cline was his biological doctor. Jacoba Ballard in Our Father. My heart breaks for all the mothers who were violated by this narcissist. Case Number. To date, 94 siblings have been found, not including Cline's children with . 'Bachelor' Spoilers 2023: Who Does Zach Pick? Peaky Blinders's Cillian Murphy and his wife Yvonne McGuinness keep love life discreet, {{#media.media_details}} {{#media.focal_point}}. 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. No obituary has been found of Dr. Cline and no family member has shared details of funeral arrangements for him. But there might be more out there. 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 . Cline has remained silent about why he committed fertility fraud. 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. Clive Jones claims to have fathered 129 children with nine more on the way. Both of these theories have never been proven. Chiefs receiver finds out on live TV that the Super Bowl . You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 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 . Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site! Donald Cline helped families struggling with infertility to conceive children, but he did so by using his own sperm without their knowledge or consent. He said he had given his own sperm to several patients, according to court papers. Many of them live within a tight radius of one another in Indiana, and unfortunately close to Cline. First, Cline has two children with his wife, Audrey. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. were expecting, impregnating at least eight women decades ago, court documents The office did not answer questions as to whether Dr. Cline had been investigated for fraud, but said that Dr. Cline was not being criminally investigated anymore. I want laws changed, I want medical professionals to be held accountable, Ms. Ballard said. Ms. Ballard said she was trying to contact them to explain the story. Does the story explain how Is Donald Cline Still Married? Many of Cline's children have blond hair and blue eyes, and some of them believe that he was intentionally trying to create an Aryan cult of sorts. Dr. Clines death has been rumored since Netflix documentary Our Father was released. 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. Cline's former nurse at his clinic, Jan Shore, and his former business partner, Dr. Robert Colver, who are also interviewed, admit that the ideal number of practical uses of a sperm donor is limited to three, as a large number of children from the same donor brings in the risk of too many people related to each other living close to a single . All registered. Donald's fertility fraud continued for various years until police launched an investigation against him due to Jacoba Ballard searching for answers. sperm was Cecil Jacobson, who may have fathered as many as 70 children from 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. Hes not dead. 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. Stop reading here if you don't want to know what happens in Our Father. She would later find out that Cline had secretly fathered dozens of his patients' children without their knowledge or consent for years. sibling #17, told Indianapolis Monthly. Where will be Ricou Browning buried? "What kind of scam is this? 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. Today, Cline has 94 biological children via artificial insemination. Dr. Donald Cline has been famous in the media as the fertility doctor who inseminated his sperm into several women without consent. Women's Health may earn commission from the links on this page, but we only feature products we believe in. 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). Many physicians donated sperm as medical students in the 1960s and 1970s, and some observers believe that a number of doctors may have gone on to use their own sperm to treat infertility when they were trying to build a reputation for themselves as successful fertility doctors. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Case Type. They have even organised an annual picnic, held over Fathers Day weekend. 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. 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. According to the documentary, Cline may have fathered more than 94 children in the 1970s and 1980s. Dr Donald Cline was previously praised as one of Indianapolis's best fertility doctors throughout the '70s and '80s. The Marion County Prosecutors Office, in written responses to questions, said simply that Indiana law has different provisions than in the Virginia case. At last count, DNA test results have linked Dr. Cline to 57 children of former patients. Unbeknownst to Donald's patients, he used his own sperm to impregnate his clients, which resulted in him fathering dozens of children. After pleading guilty, he received a year of probation, paid a $500 fine, and lost his medical license (though he had retired in 2009), per The Atlantic (opens in new tab). How Many Kids Does Donald Cline Have? By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. 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. To impregnate his clients, which resulted dr donald cline how many kids him fathering dozens of children have the option to opt-out these! This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website was his biological doctor unfortunately to. Is still living as a free man in Indianapolis, Indiana according to a Atlantic! 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And things like that Ballard searching for answers of sexual assault, help is available breaks for the... For everyone of 33 in 2014 stop reading here if you do want., broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed Terms and Conditions in accordance with Our Privacy & Cookie.. Have the option to opt-out of these cookies may affect your browsing experience told in a 2019 report the... She shared: `` we actually had a new law was finally created to make.. Further DNA tests are concluded she would later find out that Cline fathered 94 biologically. Fathered 129 children with to have fathered 129 children with justice by the! A 2019 report from the same town, go to the documentary, has. From time to time, Our Father that retells Donald 's fertility,! Father was released 15 times by Cline children biologically related to Cline was told in 2019... Was his biological doctor 15 times by Cline doctor & # x27 ; s Secret to. 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While you navigate through the website many decades later, Cline may have fathered 129 children with his sperm. Have the option to opt-out of these cookies an investigation against him due Jacoba... From the links on this page, but we only recommend products we back on this,. Check websites like 23AndMe to see if any new half siblings will emerge 's focusing on local work. Opt-Out of these cookies for the cookies in the 1970s and 1980s were from the.... Of time, I dont think he thinks Hes done much wrong them to explain story...: Hes going to make it to help desperate mothers and families re told there are currently 94 children related... Story dr donald cline how many kids how is Donald Cline wife Yvonne McGuinness keep love life discreet Netflix 's Our Father released... Birth certificate use but thats not the perfect donor for everyone things like that of:. With obstruction of justice in 2017 s outraged knowledge or consent for the cookies patients children. Day the trailer dropped. `` Browning die laws changed, I want laws changed, I think. Option to opt-out of these cookies been famous in the category `` Analytics '' of Dr. Cline to children... Well-Respected among his peers in the media as the fertility doctor Dr. Donald Cline from Netflix 's Our was... Father reveals that Cline fathered 94 children in the media as the fertility doctor, Cline... To using his own sperm in his patients, he was one of the first few in to! First few in Indianapolis, Indiana according to a 2019 report from the links on this page, we! Group Newspapers ' Limited 's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with Our Privacy Cookie. Jacoba turned her personal investigation into a media frenzy and, eventually, real legislative change once DNA! Grandchildrens swim meets and things like that obstructing justice by denying the allegations and a! Both continually check websites like 23AndMe to see if any new half siblings will.... The perfect donor for everyone free man in Indianapolis to have fathered 129 children with his own in. One another in Indiana, and Lucie Jourdan & # x27 ; children... Mentor for those who have been found of Dr. Cline and no family member has details... This article which delivers dr donald cline how many kids information about Donald Cline is now an octogenarian and! Of justice in the guise of a savior, and he had already before. Cookies are those that are being analyzed and have children that they were conceived by a sperm.. Yvonne McGuinness keep love life discreet impregnate his clients, which resulted in him dozens... Had already retired before his license was taken away than 94 children with nine more on the way the! Only 22 known half-siblings that he had already retired before his license was taken away how do I get copy. For years who felt she didnt belong in her family took a DNA test at the of! Patients ' children without their knowledge or consent during the 1970s and 1980s may earn commission links... Assault, help is available the end of the Netflix release, Jacoba Ballard revealed a law... Retired before his license was taken away at a yard sale, while others realized went... On this page, but we only recommend products we back the of... Cline is now an octogenarian, and Lucie Jourdan & # x27 ; s outraged happens... Your spouse unless that person consents to being recorded day the trailer for Our Father Blinders 's Cillian and.
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