The following is an editorial summary of a longer story.
While the medical promise of stem cell therapy continues to build, there’s a flip-side: stem cells and other biotechnology used for cosmetic purposes. This is what led to a Californian woman growing bone fragments around her eye after a botched procedure.
USA Today delves into the bioethical concerns that surround these unproven — and potentially dangerous — uses of medical biotech and what it means for the state of our regulatory and medical systems. As author Alex Berezov puts it: “Until we understand them better, stem cells are the new snake oil peddled by 21st century charlatans.”
View the full story here: Beware of stem cell therapy claims: Column
Additional Resources:
- Celltex v. the FDA: Do patients have a right to use their own stem cells for unproven treatments?, Genetic Literacy Project
The FDA has classified stem cells as drugs, creating confusion when it comes to patients whow ant to use their own stem cells in unproven therapies. Drugs fall under the reign of the FDA, but don’t you own your own stem cells? - Wild West of stem cells?, Genetic Literacy Project
GLP director Jon Entine examines the start of the battle between Celltex and the FDA and its implications for the end of the “Wild West” of stem cells..
