Fabricated Credentials

[Anchor Lead]

A medical professor at a prominent Seoul university has been accused of teaching students and treating patients with fake academic degrees. A committee set up to safeguard research integrity at Hanyang University says the professor fabricated his thesis.

[Pkg]

This is a paper published in a famed foreign journal two years ago by a professor of cosmetic surgery at Hanyang University medical school. The research discovered a new way of treating patients with sacral sores. Unlike existing surgical methods of mainly using peripheral skin cells, the paper suggested it's more effective to also attach muscle parts as well. The professor cited 26 cases of operation results to back the claim.

[Soundbite] (Official, Hanyang University Medical School (Voice modified)) : "An acquaintance who took part in that paper once said privately that the surgery was done 4-5 times and the rest of the numbers were inflated."

KBS looked for the surgery records. But only six operations had involved the use of muscle. The professor argues that records were left out.

[Soundbite] (Professor A (Voice modified)) : "I failed to ask a medical resident to change the surgery records. That wrong I confess to. But I did conduct the muscle patch surgery. I had separate research notes."

A Hanyang University committee devoted to research integrity inspected this case twice and reached the conclusion that the paper was fabricated.

[Soundbite] (Hanyang University Official (Voice modified)) : "It's not sure if a decision will be made by the next disciplinary meeting or if there will be more investigation."

The professor is also found to have forged his doctorate degree ten years ago. Records show that he obtained a bachelor's degree at an overseas medical university and then a master's degree the next day and a doctor's degree the following day.

[Soundbite] (Professor A (Voice modified)) : "I know I'm not a doctorate holder. But I filled that in as I was told to. If there was separate space, I would have just written medical doctor."

Medical dissertations particularly require caution as other doctors can use the the same method of surgery stated in the paper. Without thorough verification, the practice can directly affect patient health and safety.