MEMBERS of an indigenous people in western Canada who donated blood as part
of a genetics study nearly 20 years ago are demanding that the samples be
returned. They say that the scientist who took the samples, now an Oxford
professor, has since used them without their consent for entirely different
research. “I signed a paper releasing my blood for arthritis research. Nothing
else. There was no mention of any other kind of research. I want it back,” says
Larry Baird, chief of the Ucluelet First Nation, which is part of the
Nuu-chah-nulth people.
“This is a major issue around informed consent, when you tell people…
