Asch Blasts UC San Diego Inquiry, Denies Egg Swap

Dr. Ricardo H. Asch blasted officials at UC San Diego on Monday, vehemently denying that he had anything to do with the misappropriation of eggs or embryos at the university.

Asch said Dr. Thomas Moore, acting chairman of the Department of Reproductive Medicine at UC San Diego and the man responsible for overseeing its investigation into a widening fertility scandal, “is trying to cover UCSD’s legal behind. If the procedures his staff followed failed, he and UCSD failed . . . not Dr. Asch.”

Last month, UC San Diego officials said that Asch may have victimized at least five patients in a human egg-swapping scheme, resulting in at least one pregnancy, and that, so far, they had been unable to account for the disposition of 17 other patients’ eggs or embryos.

Leslie Franz, the spokeswoman for UC San Diego, said Monday that the school was conducting its own independent audit and that the first of a three-phase investigation revealed evidence of “unconsented [egg] transfers and incomplete patient records.”

“These are irregularities we’re continuing to pursue,” Franz said. “This audit is not over. We have evidence of possible transfers of eggs or embryos without any record of [signed] consent forms, and we stand behind that.”

Asch, who also has denied engaging in misconduct in connection with any similar activities at UC Irvine, said in a prepared statement that he was “outraged” by the allegations at UC San Diego and that he merely collaborated with officials in La Jolla in setting up their own fertility program.

“Dr. Asch was not involved in obtaining or co-signing any consent form for any procedures,” Asch said in his statement. “Dr. Asch did not sign any of the consent forms. The responsibility of handling the consent forms, co-signing and witnessing them was exclusively the responsibility of the UCSD medical staff personnel.”

In his letter to Moore, released Monday by Asch’s attorneys, Asch denies ever having jurisdiction or influence over records at UC San Diego pertaining to eggs, embryos or sperm, saying he merely conducted surgical procedures.

Asch concluded by saying he will “defend each claim” and “will initiate all appropriate legal action against UCSD.”