“Worse than a scandal” – Aftonbladet

Macchiarini affair. the tours around the Karolinska Institute and the hospital goes beyond a scandal. It is much worse, says historian of ideas Sverker said. That it happened just at the Karolinska Institute surprises him not.

There is nothing in the Swedish history of science that can be compared with the events surrounding surgeon Paolo Macchiarini and his operations at the Karolinska Institute and hospital.

It says Professor emeritus of the history of science, Tore Frängsmyr.

here is a suspicion of research misconduct, manifest deficiencies of the most senior managers, and not least the fact that two of the three patients Macchiarini experimented with synthetic trachea of ​​today are dead.

– it’s disastrous. KI’s been the best in Sweden, ranked in the top of all lists, and so is this happening, says Tore Frängsmyr said.

“Tragedy”

to Macchiarini engaged for medical research makes the events “particularly shocking”, according Frängsmyr.

– We believe that doctors save lives, but it turns out that he is experimenting with life. It is clear that it has devastating consequences for KI’s reputation.

TT has unsuccessfully sought surgeon Paolo Macchiarini for comment.

Prime Minister Stefan Löfven call Macchiarini affair of a scandal.

– There is no doubt about it. The report published yesterday doing enough, rightly, many pretty damned, says Löfven.

Sverker, professor at the Department of Historical Studies at KTH in Stockholm, however, thinks that epithet scandal is too weak.

– this goes beyond a scandal. There is a deep-contacting tragedy. It really appalling is that they have speculated with people’s lives, he says.

That it happened just at the Karolinska Institute surprises him not.

Nobel Think

– My understanding is that the Karolinska Institute have been more elitist than many other universities. It is a word with several meanings, but one is that it is prepared to take risks to reach as high as possible and then maybe it is also more easily happen that one is prepared to compromise on regulations, he said.

According to Sverker now needed a “thorough review” to rectify the problems:

– Since it apparently sitting in culture must make profound changes, rather than just cosmetic adjustments. Obviously Karolinska’s reputation has been damaged. It sees this.

FACTS

shattered confidence

Macchiarini affair has left deep traces in the Swedes’ perception of the Karolinska Institute. KI raging in reputation among universities and colleges in Sweden.

The TNS Sifo’s annual survey of confidence in the country’s universities slopes Institute to twelfth place from fourth place KI had last year. On a 100-point confidence scale falls CIs from 85 last year to 59 this year.

Management’s behavior and media management during the turbulence surrounding Paolo Macchiarini get rejected by Sifo TNS opinion boss Toivo Sjörén. He believes that the result could have been even worse if there had been a solid confidence in the institution as a university.

The survey was conducted in June, before the recent turbulence.

reputation Index for Swedish universities have been conducted by TNS Sifo since 2012. More than 2600 people were interviewed in an online survey.

Source: TNS SIFO

6 september 2016 15:13