Viewers Have One Major Question After Watching Netflix's Our Father

Viewers have been left with one major question after watching Netflix documentary Our Father. Watch the trailer here:

The documentary dropped on the streaming platform earlier this week, with the crimes of former doctor Donald Cline leaving viewers shocked and disgusted.

The fertility doctor opened his clinic in Indiana, USA, in 1979, and was praised by many for helping patients start a family.

However, it subsequently transpired that he had spent 30 years secretly using his own sperm to impregnate the women who came to him for treatment, becoming the biological father of at least 94 children.

The documentary raises lots of questions, but one that many viewers have asked is how Cline was able to claim so many victims in such a seemingly small area.

Taking to Twitter, one person asked: "What I wanna know is why so many people within a small town needed assistance with conceiving a child in the first place?"

Another made the same point, writing: "My question is how was there so many women with fertility issues in the same town? If this was a big city sure but son got literally the whole town."

Even more shocking is the fact that Cline never went to prison for his crimes.

Cline, who is now in his 80s, has never been charged with rape or sexual battery through bodily waste, as Indiana only deems it a crime if it's done in a 'rude, insolent, or angry manner'.

Ultimately, he was only charged with obstruction of justice for lying to the attorney general's office about using his sperm on patients.

In 2016, the former doctor got nothing more than a $500 (£408) fine and lost his medical licence – despite retiring in 2009.

Naturally, viewers were appalled by the lack of justice for his victims.

One person wrote: "Just watched #OurFather on Netflix. I'm absolutely disgusted that a person in the medical field abused their power on these women. Consent is crucial in our lives and relationships. I'm appalled there was little to no punishment as this was a clear violation of human rights!"

Another added: "Having your OWN medical doctor’s sperm placed inside you without your knowledge or consent is not considered rape?!"

A third said: "I just watched #OurFather on Netflix and I cannot believe Donald Cline is not in prison. How can what he did not be a crime? Its assault, rape and fraud."

The documentary's director, Lucie Jourdan, told The Guardian that Cline is still an active member of the community and shows no remorse for his actions. 

She said: "He's going to grandchildren's swim meets and things like that. There's no hiding.

"That's the thing, he's still out and about. In his head, I don't think he thinks he's done much wrong."

You can watch the documentary on Netflix now.

Featured Image Credit: Netflix

Topics: TV and Film, Netflix, Documentaries, True Crime

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey