Stem cell tourism
Main Article Content
Abstract
Never before seriously ill patients with chronic or incurable disea- ses have been so exposed to unscrupulous medical organizations that, taking advantage of their logical distress and worry, promise miracle cures and treatments and charge them huge amounts of money for procedures with no guarantee, no real benefits and, even worse, with serious risks to their health.
This paper discusses some cases of patients who paid with their health, often irreparably, or catastrophically, the effects of supposedly advanced therapy centers with stem cells. Several countries are mentioned, not always as remote, which offer and practice any of these treatments, most often by direct and aggressive marketing to patients or their families, showing real or fictional accounts of other patients, but without the previous studies and scientific papers that endorse their supposed beneficial results. In this article we discuss some useful hints and international guidelines to recognize and avoid them.
Also, we discussed in detail the specific reasons why most doctors and clinics doubt about the competence and ethical reasons of these centers and discourage those “medical tourism” trips. It is always advisable to seek the advice of the family doctor or specialist in charge, before the patients decision to receive dubious treatments, with the assurance that, decide what the patient decide, they will have always his understanding and his emotional and medical support.
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How to Cite
Pérez Requejo J. L., & Aznar Lucea, J. (2021). Stem cell tourism. Revista De Medicina Y Ética, 23(3), 369–396. Retrieved from https://pruebapub.anahuac.mx/index.php/bioetica/article/view/695
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Medicina y Ética is distributed under a Creative Commons License Atribución-NoComercial-CompartirIgual 4.0 Internacional.
The author keeps the property rights with no restriction whatsoever and guarantees the magazine the right to be the first publication of the work. The author is free to deposit the published version in any other medium, such as an institutional archive or on his own website.
References
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2 SOUBIRAN A, DE KEARNEY J. Le Journal de la Medicine: Editorial Ranco. Pa- rís; 1982:
3 MILAZZO S, ERNST E, LEJEUNE S ET AL. Laetrile treatment for cancer. Co- chrane Database Syst Rev. 2006; (2): CD005476. doi:10.1002/14651858. CD005476.pub2.
4 NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE. Gerson Therapy: History. (26.02.2010). http:// www.cancer. gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/gerson/HealthProfessional/page4.
5 U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. Beware of Online Cancer Fraud. (17.06.2008).
http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/cancerfraud061708.html.
6 El Resumen Oficial del tratamiento Issels. http://www.issels.com/Treatment Summary.aspx.
7 GONZÁLEZ ARIAS A. La controvertida ozonoterapia. ¿Cura realmente o no es más que una peligrosa trampa para incautos?. http:www.monografías.com.
8 Se puede consultar en la página web: http://www.mariposasclinic.com/.
9 MURDOCH CE, SCOTT CT. Stem Cell Tourism and The Power of Hope. Amer J Bioeth.
2010; 10: 16-23.
10 MCMAHON D, THORSTEINSDÓTTIR H. Regulations are needed for stem cell tourism: insights from China. Am J Bioeth. 2010; 10: 34-36.
11 Ministry of Health of the Peoples’ Republic of China. Notice of the Ministry of Health issued “Management practices on clinical applications of medical technolo- gy” (Ibid.).
12 Stem cell treatment. http://www.bumrungrad.com/overseas-medical-care/medi- cal-services/ info/stemcell.aspx.
13 TEMPLETON S-K. Srem Cell treatment is “child abuse”. http:// www.timesonline.co.uk/ tol/life_and_style/heath/child_health/article6823372.ece.
14 LEVINE AD. Insights from patients’ blogs and the need for systematic data on stem cell tourism. Am J Bioeth. 2010; 10: 28-29.
15 ZARZEZNY A, CAUFIELD T. Stem cell tourism and doctor’s duties to minors. A view from Canada. Amer J Bioeth. 2010; 10: 3-15.
16 CHANDLER J. Stem cell tourism: doctors’ duties to minors and other incompe- tent patients. Am J Bioeth. 2010; 10: 27-28.
17 West’s Encyclopedia of American Law. Más información en: http:// www.answers.com/ topic/caveat-emptor#ixzz1UuHWs200.
18 GUEST J, ANDERSON K. Hopes and illusions. Am J Bioeth. 2010; 10: 47-48.
19 SIDERS D. California stem cell agency’s travel plans irk Jerry Brown. Amer J Bioeth. 2011; 11: 8.
20 LINDVALL O, HYUM I. Medical innovation versus stem cell tourism. Science 2009; 324: 1664-1665.
21 AMARIGLIO N ET AL. PloS Med. 2009; 6: e1000029.
22 BROWN R. Experts warn against stem cell tourism. ABC News 2009.
23 MENDICK R, PALMER A. BST. 2010, Sunday Telegraph.
24 MENDICK R, PALMER A. Europe’s largest stem cell clinic, which is at the centre of a scandal over the death of a baby given an injection into the brain, has been shut down. Sunday Telegraph. BST. 2011.
25 MENDICK R. Chief Reporter Stem cell law loopholes allow XCell-Center to ope- rate in Germany. The Telegraph. 2010.
26 O’REILLY KB. Guidelines target stem cell medical tourism. American Medical News. 2009; Stem Cell Clinics Online: The Direct-to-Consumer Portrayal of Stem Cell Medicine. Cell Stem Cell. 2008. http://www.cell.com/cell-stem-cell/abstract/ S1934-5909(08)00573-0.
27 LINDVALL O, HYUM I. Medical innovation versus stem cell tourism. Science 2009; 324:1664-1665.
28 ZARZEZNY A, CAUFIELD T. Stem cell tourism and doctor’sduties to minors. A view from Canada. Amer J Bioeth. 2010; 10: 3-15.
29 HAUSKELLER C, WILSON-KOVAC; S D. Traveling across borders. The pitfalls of clinical trial regulation and stem cell exceptionalism. Am J Bioeth. 2010; 10; 38-40.
30 PANG ZP ET AL. Induction of human neuronal celles by defined transcription factors. Nature 2011; 476: 220-223.
31 John’s Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, Office of Public Affairs, Media. Contact: Vanessa Wasta, wasta@jhmi.edu.
32 YONG-HEE R. Protein-based human iPS cells efficiently generate functional do- pamine neurons and can treat a rat model of Parkinson disease. Journal of Clini- cal Investigation 2011; 121 (6): 2326-2335.
33 FASSAS A, KIMISKIDIS, VK.ET AL. Long-term results of stem cell transplanta- tion for MS: A single-center experience. Neurology 2011; 76: 1066-1070.
34 TOLAR J ET AL. Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells from Individuals with Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa. J Invest Dermatol. 2010; 131: 848-856.
35 BAKER M. Stem cell society condemns unproven treatments. Nature Reports Stem Cells: doi:10.1038/stemcells.2008.98.
36 Ibid.
37 Price S. Nations News. http://web.archive.org/web/20080128173958/.
38 KIATPONGSAN S, SIPP D. Offshore stem cell clinics. Science 2009; 323: 64- 65.
39 BROWN E. Rick Perry’s stem cell surgery worries some doctors. Los Angeles Times 2011.
40 KIATPONGSAN S, SIPP D. Offshore stem cell clinics. Science 2009; 323: 64- 65.
41 BLIGHT A, CURT A, DITUNNO JF ET AL. Position statement on the sale of unproven cellular therapies for spinal cord injury: the international campaign for cures of spinal cord injury paralysis. Spinal Cord. 2009; 47: 713-714.
42 INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR STEM CELL RESEARCH (ISSCR). Guidelines for the Clinical Translation of Stem Cells. http://www.isscr.org.
43 INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR STEM CELL RESEARCH. Guidelines for the Clinical Translation of Stem Cells. 2008. http://www.isscr.org/clinical_trans.
44 Pueden consultarse en: http://www.isscr.org/clinical_trans/patienthandbook.pdf. 45 MOSS RW. Patient Perspectives: Tijuana cancer clinics in the post-NAFTA era. Integr Cancer Ther. 2005; 4: 65-86.
46 MASTER Z, RESNIK DB. Stem-cell researchers are in a unique position to curb the problem of stem-cell tourism. EMBO reports advance online publication 2011: doi:10.1038/embor.
2011.156. Published online: 29 July 2011, Volume 12 August 2011.
47 TEMPLETON TN. Alerta semanal de fraude. Estafas de tratamiento con células madre. Site Jabber Blog (Traducido por Ixcoy G) 2010; 2.
48 GUYATT G, CAIRNS J, CHURCHILL D ET AL, IN BEHALF OF THE EVIDENCE- BASED MEDICINE WORKING GROUP. Evidence-based medicine. A new appro- ach to teaching the practice of medicine. JAMA. 1992; 268:2420-2425.
49 MURDOCH CE, SCOTT CT. Stem Cell Tourism and the Power of Hope. The American Journal of Bioethics 2010; 10 (5): 16-23.
50 REGENBERG AL, HUTCHINSON B, SCHANKER D ET AL. Medicine on the frin- ge: Stem cellbased interventions in advance of evidence. Stem Cells 9999 (999A) 2009: doi: 10.1002/stem.132.
51 Price S. Nations News (Barbados) 26 Nov 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/ 20080128173958/htpp://wwwnationsnews.com/story/315095110731643.php.
52 DOLAN T. A three-pronged managements strategy to stem cell tourism. Am J Bioeth. 2010; 10:43-45.
53 CYRANOSKI D. Stem-cell therapy faces more scrutiny in China. Nature 2009; 459: 146- 147.
54 MURDOCH CE, SCOTT CT. Stem Cell Tourism and the Power of Hope. The American Journal of Bioethics 2010; 10 (5): 16-23.
55 CAPLAN A, LEVINE B. Hope, Hype and Help: Ethically Assesing the Growing Market in Stem Cell Therapies. Amer J Bioeth. 2010; 10: 24-29.
56 MCMAHON D, THORSTEINSDÓTTIR H. Regulations are needed for stem cell tourism: insights from China. Am J Bioeth. 210; 10: 34-36.
57 WEISSMAN I. ISSCR:: Who are we and where are we going??. Cell Stem Cell. 2009; 5 (2): 151-153.
2 SOUBIRAN A, DE KEARNEY J. Le Journal de la Medicine: Editorial Ranco. Pa- rís; 1982:
3 MILAZZO S, ERNST E, LEJEUNE S ET AL. Laetrile treatment for cancer. Co- chrane Database Syst Rev. 2006; (2): CD005476. doi:10.1002/14651858. CD005476.pub2.
4 NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE. Gerson Therapy: History. (26.02.2010). http:// www.cancer. gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/gerson/HealthProfessional/page4.
5 U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. Beware of Online Cancer Fraud. (17.06.2008).
http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/cancerfraud061708.html.
6 El Resumen Oficial del tratamiento Issels. http://www.issels.com/Treatment Summary.aspx.
7 GONZÁLEZ ARIAS A. La controvertida ozonoterapia. ¿Cura realmente o no es más que una peligrosa trampa para incautos?. http:www.monografías.com.
8 Se puede consultar en la página web: http://www.mariposasclinic.com/.
9 MURDOCH CE, SCOTT CT. Stem Cell Tourism and The Power of Hope. Amer J Bioeth.
2010; 10: 16-23.
10 MCMAHON D, THORSTEINSDÓTTIR H. Regulations are needed for stem cell tourism: insights from China. Am J Bioeth. 2010; 10: 34-36.
11 Ministry of Health of the Peoples’ Republic of China. Notice of the Ministry of Health issued “Management practices on clinical applications of medical technolo- gy” (Ibid.).
12 Stem cell treatment. http://www.bumrungrad.com/overseas-medical-care/medi- cal-services/ info/stemcell.aspx.
13 TEMPLETON S-K. Srem Cell treatment is “child abuse”. http:// www.timesonline.co.uk/ tol/life_and_style/heath/child_health/article6823372.ece.
14 LEVINE AD. Insights from patients’ blogs and the need for systematic data on stem cell tourism. Am J Bioeth. 2010; 10: 28-29.
15 ZARZEZNY A, CAUFIELD T. Stem cell tourism and doctor’s duties to minors. A view from Canada. Amer J Bioeth. 2010; 10: 3-15.
16 CHANDLER J. Stem cell tourism: doctors’ duties to minors and other incompe- tent patients. Am J Bioeth. 2010; 10: 27-28.
17 West’s Encyclopedia of American Law. Más información en: http:// www.answers.com/ topic/caveat-emptor#ixzz1UuHWs200.
18 GUEST J, ANDERSON K. Hopes and illusions. Am J Bioeth. 2010; 10: 47-48.
19 SIDERS D. California stem cell agency’s travel plans irk Jerry Brown. Amer J Bioeth. 2011; 11: 8.
20 LINDVALL O, HYUM I. Medical innovation versus stem cell tourism. Science 2009; 324: 1664-1665.
21 AMARIGLIO N ET AL. PloS Med. 2009; 6: e1000029.
22 BROWN R. Experts warn against stem cell tourism. ABC News 2009.
23 MENDICK R, PALMER A. BST. 2010, Sunday Telegraph.
24 MENDICK R, PALMER A. Europe’s largest stem cell clinic, which is at the centre of a scandal over the death of a baby given an injection into the brain, has been shut down. Sunday Telegraph. BST. 2011.
25 MENDICK R. Chief Reporter Stem cell law loopholes allow XCell-Center to ope- rate in Germany. The Telegraph. 2010.
26 O’REILLY KB. Guidelines target stem cell medical tourism. American Medical News. 2009; Stem Cell Clinics Online: The Direct-to-Consumer Portrayal of Stem Cell Medicine. Cell Stem Cell. 2008. http://www.cell.com/cell-stem-cell/abstract/ S1934-5909(08)00573-0.
27 LINDVALL O, HYUM I. Medical innovation versus stem cell tourism. Science 2009; 324:1664-1665.
28 ZARZEZNY A, CAUFIELD T. Stem cell tourism and doctor’sduties to minors. A view from Canada. Amer J Bioeth. 2010; 10: 3-15.
29 HAUSKELLER C, WILSON-KOVAC; S D. Traveling across borders. The pitfalls of clinical trial regulation and stem cell exceptionalism. Am J Bioeth. 2010; 10; 38-40.
30 PANG ZP ET AL. Induction of human neuronal celles by defined transcription factors. Nature 2011; 476: 220-223.
31 John’s Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, Office of Public Affairs, Media. Contact: Vanessa Wasta, wasta@jhmi.edu.
32 YONG-HEE R. Protein-based human iPS cells efficiently generate functional do- pamine neurons and can treat a rat model of Parkinson disease. Journal of Clini- cal Investigation 2011; 121 (6): 2326-2335.
33 FASSAS A, KIMISKIDIS, VK.ET AL. Long-term results of stem cell transplanta- tion for MS: A single-center experience. Neurology 2011; 76: 1066-1070.
34 TOLAR J ET AL. Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells from Individuals with Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa. J Invest Dermatol. 2010; 131: 848-856.
35 BAKER M. Stem cell society condemns unproven treatments. Nature Reports Stem Cells: doi:10.1038/stemcells.2008.98.
36 Ibid.
37 Price S. Nations News. http://web.archive.org/web/20080128173958/.
38 KIATPONGSAN S, SIPP D. Offshore stem cell clinics. Science 2009; 323: 64- 65.
39 BROWN E. Rick Perry’s stem cell surgery worries some doctors. Los Angeles Times 2011.
40 KIATPONGSAN S, SIPP D. Offshore stem cell clinics. Science 2009; 323: 64- 65.
41 BLIGHT A, CURT A, DITUNNO JF ET AL. Position statement on the sale of unproven cellular therapies for spinal cord injury: the international campaign for cures of spinal cord injury paralysis. Spinal Cord. 2009; 47: 713-714.
42 INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR STEM CELL RESEARCH (ISSCR). Guidelines for the Clinical Translation of Stem Cells. http://www.isscr.org.
43 INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR STEM CELL RESEARCH. Guidelines for the Clinical Translation of Stem Cells. 2008. http://www.isscr.org/clinical_trans.
44 Pueden consultarse en: http://www.isscr.org/clinical_trans/patienthandbook.pdf. 45 MOSS RW. Patient Perspectives: Tijuana cancer clinics in the post-NAFTA era. Integr Cancer Ther. 2005; 4: 65-86.
46 MASTER Z, RESNIK DB. Stem-cell researchers are in a unique position to curb the problem of stem-cell tourism. EMBO reports advance online publication 2011: doi:10.1038/embor.
2011.156. Published online: 29 July 2011, Volume 12 August 2011.
47 TEMPLETON TN. Alerta semanal de fraude. Estafas de tratamiento con células madre. Site Jabber Blog (Traducido por Ixcoy G) 2010; 2.
48 GUYATT G, CAIRNS J, CHURCHILL D ET AL, IN BEHALF OF THE EVIDENCE- BASED MEDICINE WORKING GROUP. Evidence-based medicine. A new appro- ach to teaching the practice of medicine. JAMA. 1992; 268:2420-2425.
49 MURDOCH CE, SCOTT CT. Stem Cell Tourism and the Power of Hope. The American Journal of Bioethics 2010; 10 (5): 16-23.
50 REGENBERG AL, HUTCHINSON B, SCHANKER D ET AL. Medicine on the frin- ge: Stem cellbased interventions in advance of evidence. Stem Cells 9999 (999A) 2009: doi: 10.1002/stem.132.
51 Price S. Nations News (Barbados) 26 Nov 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/ 20080128173958/htpp://wwwnationsnews.com/story/315095110731643.php.
52 DOLAN T. A three-pronged managements strategy to stem cell tourism. Am J Bioeth. 2010; 10:43-45.
53 CYRANOSKI D. Stem-cell therapy faces more scrutiny in China. Nature 2009; 459: 146- 147.
54 MURDOCH CE, SCOTT CT. Stem Cell Tourism and the Power of Hope. The American Journal of Bioethics 2010; 10 (5): 16-23.
55 CAPLAN A, LEVINE B. Hope, Hype and Help: Ethically Assesing the Growing Market in Stem Cell Therapies. Amer J Bioeth. 2010; 10: 24-29.
56 MCMAHON D, THORSTEINSDÓTTIR H. Regulations are needed for stem cell tourism: insights from China. Am J Bioeth. 210; 10: 34-36.
57 WEISSMAN I. ISSCR:: Who are we and where are we going??. Cell Stem Cell. 2009; 5 (2): 151-153.