Center responds to Times series

General Article

Dr. Lee Hartwell, Center President & Director

Offended and upset by this week's five-part series in The Seattle Times, Hutch leaders have investigated the articles and - via e-mail and the Hutch Web site - responded with detailed statements and supporting documents. The articles take issue with two clinical trials conducted at the Hutch in the early 1980s and early 1990s. In addition, Center leaders held two faculty/staff forums Tuesday and one Wednesday. A press conference is scheduled for 2 p.m. today in Sze Conference Room. The Hutch also is running full-page newspaper ads responding to the Times articles beginning today. As well, a special edition of Center News is to be distributed next week.

Dr. Lee Hartwell, Center president and directo,r has thanked faculty and staff for their e-mail messages expressing their dismay, concerns and questions.

"We appreciate your support enormously, as well as the many phone calls and emails of encouragement we have received from the community," he said.

"To assert to you and all of the others who care about the Hutchinson Center that the actions of the Center, its faculty and staff, and its review committees met high ethical standards and served the interests of our patients, I am reviewing many documents and interviewing many of the individuals involved.

"The more I review the record, the more my pride in being a part of this great institution is validated. I pledge to you that I will do everything possible to ensure that our staff, patients, donors, volunteers and community supporters continue to share this sense of pride and ownership in being a part of one of the world's great research institutions."

To submit questions about the Center's actions or contribute information on this matter, e-mail , and Center leaders will follow up.

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