Ricardo Asch
Encyclopedia
Ricardo Hector Asch
is an obstetrician, gynecologist
, and endocrinologist
who was notable for his work in reproductive technology
, in particular gamete intrafallopian transfer
. He is also known for his unethical practices at the University of California, Irvine
's fertility clinic: the Orange County Register
' s investigations into these practices led to that paper's receiving the 1996 Pulitzer Prize
for investigative reporting.
In 1995, the Orange County Register broke the story that Asch — then Chief of the University of California, Irvine
's Center for Reproductive Health — and his two partners were misusing human embryos, and harvesting and transplanting human eggs
without patient consent
. Also facing charges of tax fraud
stemming from the case, Asch resigned, suspended his practice, sold his home, and went to Mexico
. Despite assurances by his attorney that he would return to the United States
to face prosecution
, Asch has remained in Mexico. He attained dual
Mexican/Argentine citizenship in 2001.
Asch - who owned an entertainment company at the time of the scandal - was one of the producers of the Andre Agassi
and Nick Bollettieri
intrstuctional tennis
video Attack.
On December 30, 2010, the Mexican Attorney's General Office (PGR) announced on its website that it had initiated proceedings to have Asch extradited to the United States.
is an obstetrician, gynecologist
Gynaecology
Gynaecology or gynecology is the medical practice dealing with the health of the female reproductive system . Literally, outside medicine, it means "the science of women"...
, and endocrinologist
Endocrinology
Endocrinology is a branch of biology and medicine dealing with the endocrine system, its diseases, and its specific secretions called hormones, the integration of developmental events such as proliferation, growth, and differentiation and the coordination of...
who was notable for his work in reproductive technology
Reproductive technology
Reproductive technology encompasses all current and anticipated uses of technology in human and animal reproduction, including assisted reproductive technology, contraception and others.-Assisted reproductive technology:...
, in particular gamete intrafallopian transfer
Gamete intrafallopian transfer
Gamete intrafallopian transfer is a tool of assisted reproductive technology against infertility. Eggs are removed from a woman's ovaries, and placed in one of the Fallopian tubes, along with the man's sperm...
. He is also known for his unethical practices at the University of California, Irvine
University of California, Irvine
The University of California, Irvine , founded in 1965, is one of the ten campuses of the University of California, located in Irvine, California, USA...
's fertility clinic: the Orange County Register
The Orange County Register
The Orange County Register is a daily newspaper published in Santa Ana, California. The Register is the flagship publication of Freedom Communications, Inc., which publishes 28 daily newspapers, 23 weekly newspapers, Coast magazine, and several related Internet sites.The Register is notable for its...
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
for investigative reporting.
In 1995, the Orange County Register broke the story that Asch — then Chief of the University of California, Irvine
University of California, Irvine
The University of California, Irvine , founded in 1965, is one of the ten campuses of the University of California, located in Irvine, California, USA...
's Center for Reproductive Health — and his two partners were misusing human embryos, and harvesting and transplanting human eggs
Ovum
An ovum is a haploid female reproductive cell or gamete. Both animals and embryophytes have ova. The term ovule is used for the young ovum of an animal, as well as the plant structure that carries the female gametophyte and egg cell and develops into a seed after fertilization...
without patient consent
Informed consent
Informed consent is a phrase often used in law to indicate that the consent a person gives meets certain minimum standards. As a literal matter, in the absence of fraud, it is redundant. An informed consent can be said to have been given based upon a clear appreciation and understanding of the...
. Also facing charges of tax fraud
Tax avoidance and tax evasion
Tax noncompliance describes a range of activities that are unfavorable to a state's tax system. These include tax avoidance, which refers to reducing taxes by legal means, and tax evasion which refers to the criminal non-payment of tax liabilities....
stemming from the case, Asch resigned, suspended his practice, sold his home, and went to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Despite assurances by his attorney that he would return to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to face prosecution
Prosecutor
The prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
, Asch has remained in Mexico. He attained dual
Multiple citizenship
Multiple citizenship is a status in which a person is concurrently regarded as a citizen under the laws of more than one state. Multiple citizenships exist because different countries use different, and not necessarily mutually exclusive, citizenship requirements...
Mexican/Argentine citizenship in 2001.
Asch - who owned an entertainment company at the time of the scandal - was one of the producers of the Andre Agassi
Andre Agassi
Andre Kirk Agassi is a retired American professional tennis player and former world no. 1. Generally considered by critics and fellow players to be one of the greatest tennis players of all time, Agassi has been called the best service returner in the history of the game...
and Nick Bollettieri
Nick Bollettieri
Nicholas James Bollettieri is an American tennis coach who is credited with developing many world-class champions, including Andre Agassi, Jim Courier, Monica Seles, and Mary Pierce. Recently, he has worked with 2006 U.S. Open champion Maria Sharapova, Jelena Janković, Nicole Vaidišová and Sabine...
intrstuctional tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
video Attack.
On December 30, 2010, the Mexican Attorney's General Office (PGR) announced on its website that it had initiated proceedings to have Asch extradited to the United States.
External links
- Pulitzer.org's archive The Register's stories exposing Asch
- ricardoaschsupport.com Website supporting Asch
- http://articles.latimes.com/1995-06-04/news/mn-9521_1_uc-irvine-fertility-clinic"In Quest for Miracles, Did Fertility Clinic Go Too Far?" Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles TimesThe Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
4 June 1995]. Accessed 23 October 2009