Western scientists are illegally taking blood samples from Chinese centenarians, putting their lives at risk, an activist has claimed.
Tong Zeng has written to Zhu Rongji urging the premier to step in and halt the 'horror' ordeals of the old folk. Mr Tong, who has led a campaign for Japanese wartime reparations and works in a research centre into the care of the elderly, said the sampling was threatening the lives of 10,000 centenarians.
In his letter, Mr Tong said scientists from Denmark, the United States and Germany had collected blood samples for research since early this year, without Ministry of Health authorisation.
The scientists, working with Beijing University's Population Research Institute and the Chinese Senior Citizen Association, hoped to collect samples from centenarians throughout the country, said Mr Tong.
The overseas research team initially intended to conduct a mass written survey of the elderly when they met university representatives last July, but later changed tack to gathering blood. More than 200 samples from at least 10 provinces had been taken so far.
Sampling involved the hands of the centenarians being put in warm water to speed up circulation. Blood was then drawn five times from their fingers.
Mr Tong said the process 'puts a great psychological burden on them and evokes a sense of horror'. At least one person had fainted.
