Hwang case: egg donors sue researchers and government

Seoul (AsiaNews/CI) _ Two women who donated eggs for embryonic stem cell research by the disgraced cloning scientist, Hwang Woo-suk, are demanding 32 million won (US,000) in damages.

The lawsuit was filed last week with the Seoul District Court: those being sued are MizMedi Hospital, the place where the eggs were taken, Hanyang University Medical Centre and the government.

According to the charge, the medical team led by Hwang _failed to provide sufficient, accurate information on the usage of their eggs and side effects from the extraction processes_. The health structures are being sued for _physical and psychological damage_, while the government has been held responsible _in its capacity as one of the most ardent supporters of Hwang's research and thus his accomplice_.

The donors, supported in their legal battle by 35 women's rights groups, said the compensation requested is _symbolic, but it serves to expose problems linked to this research and to send a warning to society about disregard for bioethics_. They added: _We also believe our case will help to prevent the recurrence of similar cases._