The Saga of Korean Women Who Provided Eggs for Embryonic Stem Cell Research
ResourcesThe Saga of Korean Women Who Provided Eggs for Embryonic Stem Cell Research
What is this about?
This paper summarizes a scandal related to the origin of the eggs obtained for research on cloned human embryos. In 2004 and 2005, researcher 'W' was acclaimed for creating stem cells from cloned human embryos. Concerns were later raised, however, about the source of the eggs for the embryos. An investigation discovered that the researcher had failed to fully inform the women donating the eggs about the purpose of the research, had failed to gain their informed consent, and had made payments or 'undue inducements' to obtain eggs. In fact, 75% of women had received payments and two female junior researchers from research W's lab were coerced into donating their own eggs[1]. This is a factual case.
- ↑ Baylis, Francoise. "For love or money? The saga of Korean women who provided eggs for embryonic stem cell research." Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics 30.5 (2009): 385.
Why is this important?
Common research ethics principles (Belmont 1978) that should be upheld are :
Respect for persons: individuals are autonomous agents and those with diminished autonomy are entitled to protection.
Beneficence: researchers should (1) do no harm and (2) increase potential benefits and decrease possible adverse events or harm. Participants must be aware of the risks and burdens of research.
Justice: requires equal treatment and fairness for all people.
In the case in question, a failure to adequately inform research participants or coercing people to join research violated these principles.
Ref: National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research, Bethesda, Md. The Belmont report: Ethical principles and guidelines for the protection of human subjects of research. Superintendent of Documents, 1978.
