28 Mar '17

Top cancer specialist accused of ethics breach

Summary

A Flemish oncologist formerly of UZ Leuven breached ethics and possibly the law when he ran clinical trials from the hospital

Celebrity doc

The Leuven prosecutor’s office is investigating possible breaches of medical regulations by child cancer specialist Stefaan Van Gool of the University of Leuven. Van Gool, well known in Flanders because of his appearance on the TV series Topdokters, was dismissed from his position at the city’s University Hospital (UZ Leuven) two years ago and now works in a private clinic in Germany.
 

De Standaard has discovered that the oncologist left Leuven after serious ethical and legal problems were discovered concerning some of his clinical studies. Van Gool apparently treated children and adults who had life-threatening brain tumours with experimental vaccines.

A research commission of professors from Leuven and from other universities have stated that Van Gool did not provide these patients with all the objective information they needed to consent to treatments that are not scientifically proven to work and gave false hope to patients. The doctor also started up studies before they were officially approved, according to the commission.

UZ Leuven has emphasised that patients were never in danger. “The discussions revolved around the vaccines’ possible effectiveness but didn’t include information on negative side effects,” said the hospital in a statement. “A clinic scientific study is organised via strict rules and procedures, which are safeguarded by an ethics commission and are always monitored.”

Photo: Doctor Stefaan Van Gool at UZ Leuven in 2014
©Frank Abbeloos/BELGA

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University of Leuven

Established almost six centuries ago, the University of Leuven (KU Leuven) is one of the oldest universities in the Low Countries. International rankings consistently place it among the best universities in Europe.
Papal founding - It was founded as a Catholic university by Pope Martin V in 1425.
Bright minds - Over the centuries, it attracted famous scholars like Justus Lipsius, Andreas Vesalius, Desiderius Erasmus and Gerard Mercator.
Micro and nano - KU Leuven is home to the Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre (imec), a world-class research centre in micro- and nanoelectronics.
11 544

staff members in 2013

40 069

students in 2014-2015 academic year

365

million euros in annual research budget

  • KU Leuven
  • KU Leuven Association
  • Study in Flanders

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