http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-11/25/content_3831791.htm
S.Korean scientist resigns over ova scandal
www.chinaview.cn 2005-11-25 03:37:39
SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Xinhuanet) -- South Korean renowned stem cell expert
Hwang Woo-suk, who made the first embryonic stem cells genetically matched to
living adults, on Thursday admitted using ova donated by his two fellow
researchers in his research.
South Korean renowned stem cell expert Hwang Woo-suk speaks to
press Thursday.
In a depressed tone, the famous professor slowly delivered his
apology to South Korean people and announced resignation as head of the World
Stem Cell Hub at a press conference held at the Seoul National University
(SNU).
The visiting professor of SNU also said he will step down from other
positions at state-run and non-governmental agencies, but mainly focus on
researching work.
Hwang admitted his two fellow female researchers donated eggs in 2003
under false names, when his epoch-making research suffered from shortage of
human ova.
The professor denied he knew the fact from the very beginning, saying
he verified the truth after the world famous English journal of Nature reported
the issue in May 2004.
However, he acknowledged he withheld the truth after the journal
requested his confirmation on this matter.
Moreover, Hwang also clarified he did not know a local hospital, who
provided human eggs to Hwang's research, gave compensation to ova donors.
Several days before, Roh Sung-il, administrator of MizMedi Hospital
in Seoul, admitted he provided 1.5 million won (1,445 US dollars) in
compensation to women who gave their ova.
Fifty-two-year-old Hwang stunned the world by announcing his team
first cloned human embryo and extract stem cells from it in May last year.
Hwang also attracted attention this August by announcing his team
cloned a dog for the first time in the world.
Ethics controversy surfaced when Gerald Schatten, a professor at the
University of Pittsburgh and a key partner in Hwang's research, issued a
personal statement last week, announcing he stopped collaborative research ties
with Hwang due to suspicions of unethical activity in ova procurement.
The fact of using fellow researchers ova is against the Declaration
of Helsinki, an international charter adopted in 1964 by the World Medical
Association that outlines ethical principles for medical research involving
human subjects.
The declaration states "when obtaining informed consent for the
research project the physician should be particularly cautious if the subject
is in a dependent relationship with the physician or may be under duress."
Earlier Thursday, South Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW)
released findings made by SNU's Institutional Review Board (IRB) over the
controversy surrounding Hwang and his team.
The IRB said in a report that the two junior researchers donated
their ova not under pressure, said Choi Hee-joo, public relations officer at
the MOHW.
IRB is an eight-member committee set up at the SNU to oversees the
procurement of human eggs in producing stem cells.
Choi also defended Hwang in the press briefing to announce the
findings of IRB, saying the Declaration of Helsinki only calls for "discretion
and not an outright ban."
However, the Declaration of Helsinki is widely accepted as footstone
for clinic medicine research in the world.
While, on the compensation actions, the IRB said they took place
before South Korea's biotechnology ethics law against ova purchasing went into
effect on Jan. 1, 2005.
Thus, the IRB judged such action "broke no laws."
In South Korea, Hwang is viewed as a hero by local people for they
think Hwang brought their country standing in the front line in the world over
biomedical research.
Last week, when a commentary of British journal of Nature called on
the South Korean government to stand out to probe the alleged irregularities in
the procurement of ova in Hwang's research, South Korean Ministry of Science
and Technology (MOST) responded it has no plan to launch investigation.
The government decided to reserve judgment on the controversy before
the National Biotech Committee reviewed the findings of IRBand Hwang's position
on the matter, according to official of the MOST.
It seemed that the South Korean government is standing at a crossroad
of whether to meet the international ethics standards or wink at the actions
against international ethics standards.
Local bioethics organizations already asked Seoul government to
clarify rules for procuring human eggs and create a public institution to
regulate the donation and procurement process. Enditem
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