A Deep Dive into Trust, Betrayal, and the Shadows of Medical Ethics
If you want to lose faith in humanity and its institutions, watch Our Father. This documentary reveals the darkest aspects of society through the unsettling story of a doctor who exploited trust under the guise of religious beliefs.
Dr. Donald Cline, who offered fertility treatments, used his own sperm to inseminate patients without their knowledge, ultimately facing a mere US$500 fine and the revocation of his medical license—meaningless since he had already retired by the time he was charged. The sheer violation of trust is horrific; imagine confiding in a doctor about your fertility struggles, only for him to return with a vial of his own sperm. This reality was not limited to one or two individuals but affected at least 94 people, potentially doubling that number when considering their spouses. As the documentary reveals, the tally of siblings continues to grow with each new victim interviewed, culminating in a shocking count of #48, highlighting the vast extent of Cline’s actions. Only he knows the true number of his offspring, claiming he can’t recall them all, leaving at least 282 people grappling with the fallout of his decisions.
The film sheds light on sperm donation rules, which typically limit donors to three uses to prevent a high concentration of individuals with the same biological father in close proximity—an issue known as consanguinity. This situation raises the risk of birth defects and genetic disorders, particularly if these individuals unknowingly reproduce. Many of Cline’s children now face health issues that don’t align with their mother’s family history. Cline himself suffered from rheumatoid arthritis, a condition that would have disqualified him from being a sperm donor at a licensed bank, yet he recklessly passed on his genetic material to unsuspecting patients.
Described as “evil” by his former partner, Dr. Robert Colver, Cline’s actions reflect not just moral corruption but also a breach of the Hippocratic Oath—a profound betrayal of trust. This case exposes the immense power and trust placed in medical professionals and the potential harm they can inflict. While such trust is necessary for effective healthcare, it underscores the need for stringent ethical standards to ensure doctors are genuinely committed to the well-being of their patients.
Compounding the horror is the lack of robust legal frameworks to hold Cline accountable. The documentary highlights the absence of federal laws in the U.S. against illicit donor inseminations, revealing that at least 44 other doctors have engaged in similar unethical practices. Former prosecutor Tim Delaney frustratingly articulates the legal paradox: “I don’t deny that it was a sexual violation. But legally, it isn’t a sexual violation.” Ultimately, Cline was charged only with obstruction of justice for lying to the attorney general about his actions, showcasing the glaring inadequacies of the legal system.
To those who know him, Cline appears to be a model citizen and church elder. Yet, there’s a darker side, with allegations that he is part of the “Quiverfull” movement, which encourages followers to have as many children as possible. This extremist ideology underscores the dangers of religious extremism, subtly hinted at in the film’s title, which alludes to the Lord’s Prayer.
The children of Cline bear the heaviest burden, grappling with complex identity crises. They face existential questions: Why do I look so different from my family? How do I reconcile my existence with the moral failings of my biological father? What does it mean to be the offspring of someone deemed morally corrupt?
Our Father is terrifying—not in the conventional horror sense, but in its portrayal of the breakdown of societal institutions. The idea that an individual could exploit their position of power to commit such heinous acts, all under the guise of religious conviction, is unsettling. That he remains unpunished by the law raises profound questions about the efficacy of our legal and societal frameworks.
Our Father
Director: Lucie Jourdan
Genre: Documentary
