Fertility Doctor Who Impregnated People With Own Sperm Sentenced

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — An Indianapolis fertility doctor received a one-year suspended sentence for lying to investigators about his practice of inseminating patients with his own sperm. Some of Dr. Donald Cline's former patients say the sentence imposed by the Marion County judge was too light a punishment.

Prosecutors say the 79-year-old doctor initially wrote to investigators, denying he'd used his own sperm to inseminate patients. Cline told the court on Thursday that he lied because he was scared.

Liz White says she hoped the 7-9 year old Cline would at least be put on ankle-bracelet monitoring because of pain she's felt since finding out he deceived her by fathering her now-35-year-old son.

Cline said during Thursday's court hearing he was sorry for his actions but only mentioned the names of two women he fathered who first filed complaints with state officials.

Some of those who believe Cline was their father say they don't believe he's remorseful.

Court records say paternity tests indicate that Cline is likely the biological father of at least two of his patients' children. Those children allege online genetic tests show he might be the father of 20 others.

Indiana law doesn't specifically prohibit fertility doctors from using their own sperm.

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