Donald Cline
Self - Fertility Doctor
Overview
After a woman's at-home DNA test reveals multiple half-siblings, she discovers a shocking scheme involving donor sperm and a popular fertility doctor.
Cast
12 peopleReviews
4 min readThe Doctor’s Secret and the Children Left in Its Wake
There’s a moment in Our Father that feels like a punch to the gut, not because of what’s said, but because of what isn’t. Jacoba Ballard, one of the dozens of half-siblings who discovered their shared paternity through a DNA test, sits in front of the camera, her face a mix of exhaustion and quiet fury. She’s talking about the fertility doctor who fathered her—Donald Cline, a man who spent decades using his own sperm to impregnate patients without their knowledge or consent.
The camera lingers on her hands, which are clasped tightly in her lap, the knuckles white. She doesn’t cry. She doesn’t need to.
The anger is in the stillness.
Lucie Jourdan’s documentary doesn’t rely on sensationalism to make its point. There’s no need. The facts of Cline’s crimes are horrifying enough on their own: over 90 children fathered by a man who exploited the trust of his patients, who lied to their faces, who left a trail of genetic and emotional wreckage that would only come to light decades later.
What makes Our Father more than just a true-crime procedural is its focus on the aftermath—the way these siblings, scattered across Indiana and beyond, grapple with the knowledge that their very existence was built on deception. It’s not just about the crime; it’s about the people left to pick up the pieces.
The film’s approach is methodical, almost clinical at times, which only heightens the emotional impact. Jourdan doesn’t rush. She lets the siblings tell their stories in their own words, their voices often overlapping in a way that underscores the sheer scale of Cline’s betrayal.
One woman describes the moment she realized her father—the man she grew up with—wasn’t her biological parent. Another talks about the eerie experience of meeting half-siblings who share her mannerisms, her laugh, even her taste in music. There’s no score to manipulate the audience’s emotions, no dramatic reenactments.
Audience Opinions
Audience 7.5/10
"A gripping and emotional documentary that exposes a shocking true story with raw honesty."
The documentary's account of a fertility doctor’s deceit and its lifelong impact on his biological children is deeply moving. The personal stories of those affected, particularly Jacoba Ballard, make it both heartbreaking and compelling. The pacing occasionally drags, and some aspects of the case deserved deeper investigation.
What viewers praise
- Emotionally powerful The victims' personal accounts are deeply moving and leave a lasting impact.
- Shocking true story The revelation of the fertility doctor’s actions is disturbing and impossible to look away from.
- Strong central performance Jacoba Ballard tells her own story with authenticity and force.
- Thought-provoking Raises important ethical and legal questions about medical ethics and family rights.
Common complaints
- Pacing issues Some segments feel slow, particularly in the middle of the film.
- Lacks depth in places Certain legal and medical aspects of the case needed more exploration.
- Emotionally heavy The subject matter is difficult to process, making it a tough watch.
Recommended for
True crime documentary fans Social issue explorers Emotional storytelling lovers Medical ethics enthusiasts Jacoba Ballard admirers
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsThe Dark Truth Behind Netflix’s Our Father: How a Fertility Doctor’s Scandal Became a Documentary
Netflix’s Our Father (2022) isn’t just a documentary—it’s a chilling exposé of one of the most disturbing medical scandals in recent history. Directed by Lucie Jourdan, the film unravels the twisted story of Dr. Donald Cline, a fertility specialist who secretly used his own sperm to father dozens of children without patients’ knowledge. latestnetflix.com's view is that the revelations sent shockwaves through the medical community and left families grappling with betrayal, identity crises, and legal battles.
The Scandal That Rocked Indiana
At the center of Our Father is Jacoba Ballard, one of Cline’s biological children, who uncovered the truth through DNA testing. What began as a personal quest for answers soon revealed a horrifying pattern: Cline, a respected Indiana doctor, had fathered at least 94 children by inseminating patients with his own sperm instead of donor samples. The documentary follows Ballard and other half-siblings as they confront Cline, who initially denied the allegations before admitting to the deception.
The film doesn’t just rely on interviews—it weaves in archival footage, legal documents, and emotional testimonies from families who trusted Cline with their fertility treatments. The result is a gripping, infuriating portrait of medical malpractice and the lifelong consequences for his victims.
Legal Fallout and Netflix’s Role
Cline’s actions weren’t just unethical—they were illegal. In 2017, he pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice for lying to investigators, though he avoided jail time due to his age. The documentary also touches on the legal battles that followed, including lawsuits against Cline and, controversially, Netflix itself. Some of Cline’s biological children sued the streaming giant, alleging the film exploited their trauma for entertainment. The case highlights the ethical tightrope documentaries walk when covering real-life tragedies.
Despite the backlash, Our Father became a critical talking point, earning a 6.1/10 rating on SensCritique and sparking widespread discussion about fertility fraud laws. (As of the evidence, Rotten Tomatoes lacks a critic score, but audience reactions remain divided.)
Where Are They Now?
The documentary’s aftermath left many questions unanswered. Cline, now in his 80s, has largely retreated from public view, though his biological children continue to connect through DNA databases. Some have formed support groups, while others grapple with the emotional fallout of discovering their origins. The film’s impact also led to stricter fertility clinic regulations in Indiana, though advocates argue more needs to be done to protect patients.
For viewers, Our Father is a stark reminder of how easily trust can be shattered—and how the pursuit of truth can reshape lives.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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