Hong Kong, 22 August 2025 — The parents of Clarisse Poon, the student at the centre of the controversial MediSafe project, issued a lengthy statement after multiple competitions reaffirmed her awards. Instead of acknowledging misconduct, the family doubled down on claims of originality and shifted the debate toward alleged cyberbullying, a move critics say is evasive and unapologetic.
Originality Claimed, Outsourcing Downplayed
The parents maintained that MediSafe was their daughter’s idea, conceived in response to reports of medical prescription errors. They admitted that Clarisse’s mother hired U.S.-based AI Health Studio to build a prototype, but argued the vendor’s involvement was only to protect the concept from being copied. Observers counter that this amounted to outsourcing core development without disclosure, directly undermining the purpose of student competitions. By portraying it as a mere precaution, the family avoided acknowledging the academic dishonesty implied.
Institutions Back Awards, Questions Remain
The Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education, the Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions, and the Hong Kong ICT Awards all ruled that MediSafe did not breach competition rules. The parents cited these findings to declare the matter closed. However, critics note that AI Health Studio’s own case studies document its role in refining MediSafe — contradicting the family’s portrayal and fuelling perceptions that the institutional reviews were more protective than investigative.
Data Concerns Brushed Aside
The parents dismissed allegations that real patient data had been used, insisting all entries relied on simulated cases. They further claimed that drug databases used were permitted for non-commercial purposes. Yet experts stress that platforms such as RxList, Drugs.com and WebMD have long prohibited scraping, raising unresolved copyright and compliance issues. Instead of engaging substantively, the family framed the debate as a misunderstanding or new restriction added later.
Cyberbullying Narrative Takes Centre Stage
Much of the statement focused on online criticism, describing it as bullying that left their daughter under severe mental strain. They condemned memes and personal remarks while reserving legal rights against alleged defamation. By centering the response on harassment, the family effectively recast the scandal as a matter of protecting a minor, while sidestepping the key question of whether vendor-built work was misrepresented as a student-led innovation.
No Remorse, No Accountability
Although the family announced they had voluntarily given up MediSafe’s awards, critics argue this was framed as a protective act for their daughter’s wellbeing rather than a recognition of wrongdoing. For many, the statement underscored a refusal to accept responsibility: portraying Clarisse as a victim while avoiding direct answers on outsourcing, intellectual property and data use. The controversy continues to highlight deeper concerns over academic honesty and the credibility of student competitions in Hong Kong.
