Hwangs’ Lies

November 29, 2005

Last week the South Korean stem cell pioneer Hwang Woo-Suk publicly apologized after an official investigation found two female scientists in his laboratory donated their own eggs for his research on cloning. But Hundreds of South Koreans have offered to donate eggs for stem cell research in a show of support for the researcher. More than 700 would-be ova donors have come forward in the past two weeks alone, campaigners for Hwang said Sunday in an update on online egg donor applications.

Are these women aware of the risk of donating eggs? Have they been informed that there is a risk of ovarian cysts and cancers, severe pelvic pain, rupture of the ovaries, and possible negative effects on future fertility in order to undergo the treatment required to harvest the eggs? Currently, Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) occurs in about 1 of 100 women who are given the ovarian hyperstimulating drugs needed for harvesting. Statistically, at least seven of the women would suffer from OHSS, a condition that causes rapid accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity, chest cavity, and heart and produces symptoms and outcomes such as severe pelvic pain, nausea, vomiting, weight gain, ovarian enlargement, respiratory problems, blocking of blood vessels by blood clots, and liver dysfunction. There is even a possibility that one or two would die because of the procedure.

Some women such as the 27-year-old disabled woman Kim Yong-Hae will be willing to take such a chance. “Please don’t give up, doctor Hwang. Your research is my only hope,” wrote Yong-Hae on her donation application. “You should take all of my ova if they help.” Unfortunately, many of the donors appear to have bought into the hype that Woo-Suk’s research will lead to actual cures for diseases. Hwang has already been disgraced for lying about his research. Will he continue to be dishonest by promising potential cures that will never come from cloning?