Donald Cline

Donald Lee Cline (born December 10, 1938) is a former American medical doctor of obstetrics and gynecology and convicted felon.

Between 1974 and 1987, Cline sired over 90 children without disclosing himself as the sperm donor to his patients.

As of May 11, 2022, Cline has been confirmed as the biological father of 94 doctor-conceived offspring.

Cline received his undergraduate degree from Indiana University and his M.D. from Indiana University School of Medicine.

After interning at Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital, he served two years in the Air Force and 12 years as inactive reserve.

In 1979, Cline opened his clinic on 2020 West 86th Street in Indianapolis and specialized in reproductive endocrinology & infertility.

He practiced there until retiring in 2009.

In 2014 when Jacoba Ballard, a daughter of a former patient of Dr. Cline, reviewed the results of her at-home DNA test, she discovered a biological connection to eight previously unknown half-siblings.

Her genetic genealogy research ultimately revealed Cline, her mother's fertility doctor, as her biological father.

Cline is now known to have covertly fathered at least 94 offspring.

Ballard filed a complaint with the Attorney General of Indiana who initiated an investigation in 2015.

Then Indiana attorney general Tim DeLaney declined to prosecute because "there was no law forbidding Cline’s conduct."

Ballard then pursued media coverage.

Fox59 anchor Angela Ganote investigated her story.

During her investigation, Ganote learned that Cline had lied to the attorney general's office in their investigation.

Documents show that he had told investigators, "I can emphatically say that at no time did I ever use my own sample for insemination nor was I a donor."

After a story aired on Fox59, Cline left a voicemail for Ballard contradicting what he had told investigators.

"Uh, this is Dr. Cline, You know, I thought I was doing the right thing. I only donated my own sample nine or 10 times," he said.

He had placed the call to ask Ballard for help with damage control.

"Um, my wife and I, uh, after 57 years of marriage, um, we have had a great deal of problems over this. She considers this adultery. I donated my sample. Gonna lose my wife. Our marriage will be over. Can you help?"

Ganote told DeLaney that Cline was lying to them.

Ballard played the audio of the voice mail.

The attorney general then conducted an independent DNA test.

The results confirmed a 99.9997% probability of paternity.

Charges were filed against Cline.

In State of Indiana v. Donald Cline, Cline pleaded guilty to two Level 6 felony counts of obstruction of justice and received a one-year suspended sentence.

On November 30, 2016, Elizabeth White and son Matthew White filed a proposed complaint for damages and demand for jury trial with the State of Indiana Department of Insurance.

The proposed complaint cites negligence, constructive fraud, battery, breach of contract, breach of express warranty, and negligent hiring or retention as to defendant and reproductive endocrinology associates.

They then filed a multi-count complaint in Marion Superior Court.

Cline's motion to dismiss was denied.

In an interlocutory appeal, a panel of Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed the lower court's decision, finding that "Matthew sufficiently stated breach of contract and tort claims for which relief can be granted."

As of May 2022, Cline had paid out more than $1.35 million to settle three civil lawsuits filed by donor children and families.

Three more are pending.

The Cline fertility fraud and similar doctor-donated sperm cases exposed a lack of legislation specific to infertility patients' and their children's rights.

Ballard lobbied the state of Indiana for change.

Following his felony conviction in 2018, Cline surrendered his medical license.

He is prohibited from reinstatement by the Medical Licensing Board of Indiana.

On May 17, 2019, Indiana became the first state to designate fertility fraud as a Level 6 felony.

S.E.A. 174, P.L. 215 became effective July 1, 2019.

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