A group of experts has published an article suggesting more stringent regulations are required to prevent people from obtaining risky or ineffective stem cell therapies. In an opinion piece published in the journal US journal Science Translational Medicine, 15 medical and legal experts said unproven stem cell therapies put patients at risk.
The experts are locating in a variety of countries including the United States, Canada, the UK, Italy, and Japan. The article suggests that national laws are not enough to deter patients from traveling overseas to obtain untested and potentially unsafe stem cell therapies.
The authors of the paper explained the inadequacy of national rules, writing: “Approaches for international regulation not only need to develop consistent rules over the commercialisation of medical practices and products but also need to give them teeth by developing cross-border partnerships for compliance.”
Stem cell therapies are already used to treat more than 80 different conditions including immune system disorders and some forms of cancer. Researchers suspect that stem cells may be used to treat many more conditions including heart disease, spinal cord injuries, various inflammatory, and some forms of blindness. However, much more research is required to determine the safety and efficacy of using stem cells to treat these conditions.
The paper mentions the proliferation of untested stem cell therapies being used in countries like Australia. The authors mention the 2013 case of Sheila Drysdale, who died after receiving an unproven liposuction treatment that used stem cells. Her doctor believed the stem cells could help to improve many aspects of Sheila’s health. His claims were not backed up by medical research.
Another Australian woman named Kelly can Meurs died in 2013 after traveling to Russia for a stem cell therapy to treat her are neurological disorder. She had a heart attack shortly after the procedure and passed away.
The paper suggests that international regulations should be created to prevent people from obtaining unsafe or unproven treatments in other countries.
Source: Stem cell therapies: medical experts call for strict international rules
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