Stem cells in umbilical cord blood are used to treat blood disease, including diabetes . An expert group is calling for a clampdown on potentially unsafe and unproven cell research .
The expert group, Bionet, is comprised of expert European and Chinese doctors, bioethicists and lawyers. The group stresses that all countries ought to develop more effective regulation for this new science.
Bionet insists that desperate patients are fleeced of their money and are subjected to a great deal of hype once they travel abroad for treatments. The only way this kind of cell research can be countered is through proper clinical trials.
Bionet has provided a great deal of anecdotal evidence regarding its concerns that stem cell research is being moved too quickly into clinical practice without proper study, with China having overtaken India as the country where pharmaceutical companies are undertaking the majority of their trials.
It is key that doctors inform their patients about the short term and long term prognosis. Moreover, the risks are unknown.
Bionet recommends that the effectiveness and safety of stem cell treatments is investigated via the latest in clinical trials prior to their being offered to patients. In addition, it states that doctors ought to be honest as to the conditions whereby germ cells, embryos or embryonic tissue has been collected.
In May 2009, China introduced new regulations urging clinical trials prior to stem cell treatments were offered to patients.
Professor Qui Renzong, vice-president of the ethics committee at the Chinese Ministry of Health, said: "In China there are about 150 institutions now providing stem cell therapy for diabetes through to spinal injuries."
Foreign patients pay around £15,500 for treatment. However, he stated that since the introduction of recent regulations there was no way of knowing how many foreigners had made trips to China for treatments.
Safety Warnings Over Stem Cell Trips
Wed, 30 Sep 2009
Recommended links
Best travel insurance deals for diabeticsDiabetic travel insurance quote form
Dealing with holiday illness abroad
Travelling long haul
Diabetic life insurance
New Type 2 Diabetes Gene Identified
Is Winter Responsible for Type 1 Diabetes
Thomas Cook is Hit by Swine Flu Outbreak
ContentMain
