Donald Cline

Donald Cline

Name	Donald Cline
Birth name
Birth date	1938
Birth place	Indiana, United States
Death date
Death place
Alma mater
Occupation	Former fertility doctor
Years active
Organization
Known for	Fertility fraud scandal
Notable works
Spouse(s)
Website

Donald Cline (born 1938) is a former American fertility doctor who gained notoriety for using his own sperm to inseminate patients without their knowledge or consent. This unethical practice led to a significant fertility fraud scandal, which came to light in the 2010s.

Early Life and Education

Donald Cline was born in Indiana, United States, in 1938. He pursued a career in medicine, eventually specializing in fertility treatments. Cline established a fertility clinic in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he practiced for several decades.

Medical Career

Cline was a respected fertility doctor in the Indianapolis area, where he helped numerous couples conceive children. During his career, he was considered a pioneer in the field of reproductive medicine. However, his reputation was later tarnished by revelations of unethical practices.

Fertility Fraud Scandal

The scandal involving Donald Cline emerged when several individuals, conceived through artificial insemination, began using DNA testing services to learn more about their genetic backgrounds. These tests revealed that many of them were half-siblings, sharing the same biological father, who was not the donor their parents had selected.

Investigation and Legal Proceedings

In 2014, a group of half-siblings discovered through DNA testing that they were all related to Donald Cline. This prompted an investigation into his practices. It was revealed that Cline had used his own sperm to inseminate patients at his clinic without their knowledge or consent.

In 2017, Cline was charged with two counts of obstruction of justice for lying to investigators about the number of times he used his own sperm. He pleaded guilty and received a one-year suspended sentence. The case highlighted the lack of specific laws addressing fertility fraud at the time.

Impact and Legislation

The case of Donald Cline led to increased awareness of fertility fraud and prompted legislative changes. In 2019, Indiana passed a law making fertility fraud a criminal offense, allowing victims to sue for damages. This legislation was one of the first of its kind in the United States.

Media Coverage and Public Reaction

The scandal received widespread media attention, leading to documentaries and news articles that explored the ethical and legal implications of Cline's actions. The public reaction was one of outrage and disbelief, as many questioned how such practices could go undetected for so long.

Also see

• Fertility fraud
• Artificial insemination
• DNA testing
• Medical ethics

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