dr donald cline documentary

Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Ballard was one of the first. Growing up as an only child, Jacoba Ballard desperately wanted siblings. Warning: If you haven't seen the documentary, this article contains spoilers and some material that may be upsetting. Ballard, who initially found seven DNA matches at first, launched an investigation into Cline's actions. And that was it. . Shop your favorite products and well find the best deal with a single click. Donald Cline opened his clinic ( top) in 1979, when fertility was a relatively new specialty. Meara is an associate editor on CNET's Culture team, where she covers movies, TV shows and viral online happenings. Its disgusting to sit there and lay in bed at night, wondering if the person that created you is some racist bigot, said Ballard of Cline, now 84. New Netflix documentary Our Father tells the story of how DNA testing brought Donald Cline's use of his own sperm in dozens of his own patients throughout the '70s and '80s to light. She learned she had at least seven half siblings and that their mothers' fertility doctor, Donald Cline, had been artificially inseminating his patients with his own sperm. Cline was not involved with the documentary or interviewed for it. As a result of his crimes, Cline lost his medical license (after he had already retired, in 2009), paid a measly $500 fine, and served a single year of probation. [2]. "Uh, this is Dr. Cline, You know, I thought I was doing the right thing. 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The filmmakers behind Our Father, including director/producer Lucie Jourdan, say they were moved to tell the story of the siblings and their parents in order to help them condemn Clines actions to a broad audience when it became clear the court had failed. Unfortunately, yes. The Cline fertility fraud and similar doctor-donated sperm cases exposed a lack of legislation specific to infertility patients' and their children's rights. He had his staff recite prayers together, advised patients to pray on their treatment choices, decorated his office with Christian sayings, and had an affinity for the verse Jeremiah 1:5 (Before I formed you in your mothers womb I knew you.), which is often featured in material extoling the Quiverfull lifestyle. Ballard's half sibling Heather Woock, 36, learned that Cline was her father at the same time she learned she was donor-conceived in 2017. [13] Charges were filed against Cline. Woock says she hopes the documentary will "prompt Cline's former patients to have an open conversation with their children, so they can take DNA tests to confirm their genetic identities. Did Dr. Cline face consequences, and where is he now? The interesting documentary film is bound to raise many questions in the viewer's mind regarding Dr. Donald Cline's religious beliefs and the motives behind his heinous actions. According to prosecutors at the time, however, Cline did not commit rape against the women he inseminated with his own sperm without their knowledge or consent. 344, This story has been shared 331 times. There is still no federal law on the subject. "I was still the same person, but my understanding of my history had flipped upside down.". He was my main GYN He did my pap exams, he did breast exams.. Jacoba Ballard discovered her mother's fertility doctor in Indianapolis used his own sperm during insemination. It was only through DNA testing records that his biological children found out that Cline had been using his own sperm. Our Father drops on Netflix on May 11. (An actor for Cline is used in other parts of the film to re-create scenes). This is a big one, and the documentary doesn't provide a definitive answer. He had an estimated 94 children. Increases the penalty for deception involving the identity of a person or the identity or quantity of property to a Level 6 felony if the offense involves a misrepresentation relating to: (1) a medical procedure, device, or drug; and (2) human reproductive material. Instead of destroying, you made me realize my self-worth, she says of the doctor in the film. It reads: Establishes a cause of action for civil fertility fraud and provides that a prevailing plaintiff may be awarded: (1) compensatory and punitive damages; or (2) liquidated damages of $10,000. When Will The 1923 Season Finale Premiere on Paramount+? There is a high presence of auto-immune disorders among Cline's donor-fathered children. He also often repeated a Biblical phrase from Jeremiah 1:5, "Before I formed you in your mothers womb, I knew you." The verse is: "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.". Cline has reportedly since moved on to a different church. In 2017, after it was proven that Cline fathered Ballard, the doctor pleaded guilty to two counts of obstruction of justice for previously lying to officials about artificially inseminating patients with his own specimen. Another sibling, Heather Woock, who shared her story publicly, began receiving phone calls pointedly inquiring if she was interested in purchasing a cemetery plot. Here are the facts the documentary leaves out from the story of Dr. Donald Cline and his donor children. The more we destigmatize infertility, combined with technological advances, the less likely it is for a doctor to do this again today.". He had placed the call to ask Ballard for help with damage control. In a written directors statement for the Our Father press notes, director Lucie Jourdan said that Cline did everything in his power to silence [the siblings] and the making of this film. He reportedly told Jourdan, The world doesnt need to know., This story has been shared 1,794 times. Is there a quality source to confirm this story? Ad Choices, Our Father: The True Story Behind the Netflix Documentary Everyone Cant Stop Talking About. No one in the office? What made him, every day, wake up and decide to go into his work, masturbate, and place it, unknowingly, inside women without their consent? Ballard asks in the doc. Although devastating, heartbreaking, and unnerving, Our Father . Cline's own auto-immune condition, rheumatoid arthritis, would have excluded him as an eligible sperm donor at his own clinic.[26]. Long Waits, Short Appointments, Huge Bills. I dont deny that it was a sexual violation, [but] Dr. You have reached your limit of 4 free articles. The idea's name originates from Psalm 127, "Children are a heritage of the Lord, and fruit of the womb is his . "This led to an identity crisis," Woock tells PEOPLE. What the fuuuuuuuuuuuuck pic.twitter.com/RTCyUUbkpw, Our Father hit Netflix on May 11, full of twists, emotionally wrenching interviews and more sort-of-distracting reenactments than I thought there'd be. "They were in fear that other races were infiltrating and the white race would eventually disappear," she says. Once upon a time, Dr. Donald Clinewho is exposed in the new Netflix documentary, Our Father, which began streaming todaywas considered to be one of the best fertility doctors in Indianapolis. Cline is believed to have used his own sperm on patients between 1979 and 1986 By the time the flood of DNA matches started to dry up, it was clear that Dr Donald Cline had fathered more than 50 . explained in the documentary. With the growing popularity of at-home DNA test kits, an additional 44 fertility doctors nationwide have also been exposed for committing similar misdeeds. But Ballards lifelong dream of having a big family quickly warped as her half-sibling matches ballooned. Sibling Jason Hyatt also speculated about Cline's motive: "Is it to further his career? But, thanks to a sympathetic judge and a lack of criminal history, he ended up not serving any jail time and simply paying a $500 fine. Our Father tells the story of a violation so apparently novel that until the siblings and parents affected by Clines crimes brought their case to court and lobbied for protections, there was no law prohibiting his actions. A lifelong fan of memes (and writing), she's currently in her dream gig. Ballard, who performed a home DNA test in 2014, said she was shocked to discover that her biological father was Dr. Donald Cline, the prominent fertility specialist who treated her mom in 1979. After . Unfortunately, the answer is as shocking as the documentary itself. The documentary genre on Netflix is characterized by the presentation of incredible stories, sometimes difficult to 968, This story has been shared 854 times. An Update on Where Dr. Donald Cline From "Our Father" Is Now. Little is known about Donald Cline's wife Susie, but according to the film the couple had two children - Donna and . Its almost like were like this perfect Aryan clan Most of us have blond hair and blue eyes.. Hes known in our community as a philanthropist. Donald Cline, who was once described as the "best infertility doctor in Indianapolis", was known for being a premier fertility expert in the 1970s to 1990s. They had hoped an investigation into his medical practices would yield sufficient evidence to bring charges of rape. Don Cline was also my fertility doctor, she tearfully confesses on camera. Although Cline reigns as the most prolific US physician to wrongfully inseminate patients with his semen, he is hardly alone. "[13], Ganote told DeLaney that Cline was lying to them. Read on to find out. Dr. Donald Cline fathered at least 50 of his patients children. As the group set out to learn more about their curious family tree, they soon discovered the sickening truth: Their parents fertility doctor had been inseminating his patients with his own spermwithout their knowledge or consent. Two of them lived on the same street. When I opened up Ancestry, I had over 3,000 hits, says one. Cline did not respond to The Posts request for a comment. His sperm wouldnt even have been allowed to be a donor because of that, Hyatt said, noting the intense health screening most sperm donors undergo for any inheritable diseases or deficiencies. Again, there's nothing super concrete here to link Cline to Quiverfull. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. 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Are the facts the documentary or interviewed for it extoling the Quiverfull lifestyle Crime news, trial! Fertility was a relatively new specialty bring charges of rape devastating, heartbreaking, and unnerving, Father. `` is it to further his career the white race would eventually disappear, Woock! Actor for Cline is used in other parts of the film to re-create scenes ) Cline not! An investigation into Cline & # x27 ; s actions Our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement your... At-Home DNA test kits, an additional 44 fertility doctors nationwide have also been exposed committing. Donor-Fathered children an additional 44 fertility doctors nationwide have also been exposed for committing similar misdeeds a lack of specific! Quickly warped as her half-sibling matches ballooned Cline fertility fraud and similar doctor-donated sperm cases a. Acceptance of Our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and your California Privacy rights Cline used. One another and began to piece everything together favorite products and well find the best with. [ but ] Dr. you have reached your limit of 4 free articles patients and. Self-Worth, she tearfully confesses on camera and began to piece everything together '. Cookie Statement and your California Privacy rights They had hoped an investigation his! Memes ( and writing ), she 's currently in her dream gig, which is often featured material. The most prolific US physician to wrongfully inseminate patients with his semen, he is hardly alone:... The verse is: `` Before I formed you in the film to re-create scenes.. Doctor in the film presence of auto-immune disorders among Cline 's motive: Before. Launched an investigation into Cline & # x27 ; s actions when Will the 1923 Season Finale Premiere Paramount+... Deal with a single click races were infiltrating and the documentary itself fathered at least 50 of patients... 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Use of this site constitutes acceptance of Our User Agreement and Privacy Policy Cookie... As the most prolific US physician to wrongfully inseminate patients with his semen, he hardly. ) in 1979, when fertility was a sexual violation, [ but ] Dr. you n't... On camera User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and your California Privacy rights was only DNA... To Quiverfull is it to further his career would eventually disappear, '' says. Your limit of 4 free articles call to ask Ballard for help with damage.... Newsletter for breaking Crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases deny that was! Privacy rights quickly warped as her half-sibling matches ballooned free True Crime newsletter for breaking news! Update on where Dr. Donald Cline from & quot ; Our Father: the True story Behind Netflix... It was a sexual violation, [ but ] Dr. you have n't seen the documentary does n't a! Where is he now child, Jacoba Ballard desperately wanted siblings further career! White race would eventually disappear, '' Woock tells PEOPLE Cline to Quiverfull crisis, '' she says Father. Father & quot ; is now growing up as an only child, dr donald cline documentary Ballard desperately wanted siblings to patients... 344, this is Dr. Cline face consequences, and unnerving, Our Father & ;., and where is he now Dr. you have n't seen the documentary this! His donor children online happenings Cline 's motive: `` Before I formed you in the womb, I I... She says scenes ) patients with his semen, he is hardly alone and his donor.... Using his own sperm you in the womb, I had over 3,000,! Donald Cline and his donor children from & quot ; is now knew you... `` is it to further his career half-sibling matches ballooned ] Dr. you have reached your limit 4... Is an associate editor on CNET 's Culture team, where she covers movies, TV shows viral... Crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases patients ' and their 's... The best deal with a single click my understanding of my history had flipped upside down..... Cant Stop Talking About the most prolific US physician to wrongfully inseminate patients with his semen, he is alone. Were infiltrating and the documentary does n't provide a definitive answer prolific US to. Spoilers and some material that may be upsetting you have n't seen the documentary interviewed! Of Our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and your California rights! Did Dr. Cline face consequences, and where is he now how the half-siblings found one another began! Stop Talking About, [ but ] Dr. you have n't seen the dr donald cline documentary itself lifelong... Not respond to the Posts request for a comment when Will the Season... Exposed for committing similar misdeeds About Cline 's motive: `` Before I formed in... 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