研究用卵子提供についての論文がNew Genetics and Society誌に掲載されました (洪)

2011/09/03

2006年に韓国で生じたES細胞論文捏造事件で、自発的卵子提供をしたドナーのその動機に着目し、「利他的な行為」に見え隠れする文化的諸要素や倫理的諸問題について分析しました。

Reconsidering ethical issues about “voluntary egg donors” in Hwang's case in global context

Azumi Tsuge & Hyunsoo Hong

New Genetics and Society. Volume 30, Issue 3,
2011pages 241-252
Available online: 25 Aug 2011

【Abstract】
In the scandal around Korean stem cell scientist Woo-Suk Hwang, the inappropriate collection of human eggs as research material, fabricated data on ES cells obtained through somatic cell nuclear transfer, and fraudulent fundraising were condemned as legal and ethical transgressions. Among the criticisms, the donation of eggs by many women became a big issue. Some of the women were motivated by financial compensation or in-kind support, while others decided to donate their eggs without payment, being convinced that the research would bring therapy for thus far incurable patients, a promise unfulfilled. Regardless of the multiple reports published to articulate why the Hwang scandal happened in South Korea, we realized during our ethnographical fieldwork in that country that it would be meaningful to consider the ethical issues in a global context. In this paper, we focus on the motivations of the South Korean women who donated their eggs voluntarily as research materials, and aim to understand it in a more general context. We point out that not only their love of family but also other altruistic motivations for donating eggs are affected by the attitudes revealed in their narratives. Finally, we argue that there is a serious bioethical issue when a social environment of sick or disabled people makes women decide to help these individuals by donating eggs.