University to probe researcher's request for fetal tissue

Sun 28 Nov 1999
By Fabian Dawson
Vancouver Province

VANCOUVER (CP) - The University of British Columbia will investigate a deal to obtain fetal tissue between one of its research scientists and a U.S. agency that is being accused of trafficking in baby body parts.

The Anatomic Gift Foundation is one of two organ procurement agencies being investigated by a U.S. congressional committee for allegedly selling for profit tissue harvested from aborted fetuses, in violation of federal law.

Lawmakers, ethicists and researchers fear the profit factor would influence some women to get pregnant for the specific purpose of selling fetal tissue.

They also worry that the matter could drive a woman's decision to have an abortion.

The foundation has denied paying women for tissue donations, adding that it charges researchers on a cost-recovery basis. The agency has stressed that it works within U.S. guidelines.

Dr. Richard Spratley, the University of B.C.'s associate vice-president of research, said the research ethics board will investigate and review the deal involving the foundation.

``It is not clear from the allegations whether the source [AGF] is a for-profit group . . .n We only deal with non-profit sources as far as human subjects or tissues are concerned, and all projects are reviewed by the ethics board,'' he said.

Spratley said he will review all the paperwork involving the 1994 arrangement between the foundation and a pediatrician, who used to have a lab at the university.

The pediatrician requested from the foundation lungs from 16-24-week-old fetuses for his research into respiratory distress syndrome, a major cause of death in premature infants.

In addition to the foundation, the U.S. congressional probe is also looking at an Illinois-based group called Opening Lines.

The price list of ``fresh'' fetal organs from Opening Lines for researchers needing body parts states that a brain costs $999 US, ears $75, eyes $50 and livers $150. (With Files from The National Post)