Download Australian Stem Cell Essentials

What is a stem cell?
• Stem cells can divide and make copies of themselves (called ‘self-renewal’).
• Stem cells can also make other, more mature
cell types, tissues or organs (called ‘differentiation’).
How does a stem cell treatment
become ‘proven’?
• The tissue-specific (‘adult’) stem cells in your body can only make related cell types
(e.g., blood stem cells make blood cells).
Assessment of proposed stem cell treatments
through clinical trials is used to determine the
treatment’s safety and effectiveness, with the
results published for transparency and further
education.
• Pluripotent (‘embryonic’, ‘reprogrammed’, ‘induced’) stem cells grown in the laboratory can make all cell types in the body.
It is hoped stem cells, and the cells they make, may
eventually provide new treatments to help repair or
replace damaged and diseased cells in the body.
What is an UNPROVEN stem cell
treatment?
Where doctors offer to treat patients without first
properly evaluating the proposed treatment and
risks, effectively circumventing the clinical trial
process.
Key signs of an UNPROVEN stem cell
treatment are:
• The treatment isn’t part of a registered clinical trial.
• Many diseases are treated with the same type of stem cell and procedure.
• Patient testimonials are used to support claims of benefit with no independent verification, and no published scientific papers.
•
The treatment is advertised to you on the Internet, TV, radio or by newspaper
advertisements, rather than by referral from your treating doctor.
What is stem cell tourism?
Travelling within Australia or overseas to
obtain an unproven stem cell treatment.
Are there risks with UNPROVEN
stem cell treatments?
Yes, complications and even deaths have been
reported from unproven stem cell treatments.
Before you make a decision be sure to take the
information you gather back to your treating
doctors for independent advice on what is
most suitable for you.
Just because a treatment is being offered in
Australia does not make it a proven, safe and
effective therapy.
Australian
Stem Cell
Essentials
How can I assess if a stem cell
treatment is UNPROVEN?
The information contained in this brochure is to
be used to assist you in your search for more
information to then take and discuss with your
treating doctors.
• When it is claimed there are no risks involved in the treatment.
• When you are asked to pay for a treatment that is not yet an accepted medical practice.
• When there is no Medicare or private insurance rebate for the treatment.
Disclaimer: This brochure must not be relied upon as
a substitute for medical or other professional advice.
Please seek independent medical advice.
Supported by the University of Western Sydney
Questions to ask a stem cell treatment provider
- Is this an UNPROVEN TREATMENT?
Ask about the treatment:
Ask about the procedure:
Is this an accepted medical procedure,
if so by whom is it approved?
What type of cells are you using
– mine or someone else’s?
Is the treatment considered ‘experimental’?
If using donor cells, where do they come
from – fetal tissue, embryos, umbilical
cord blood?
If so, is it being offered as part of a
clinical trial?
If part of a clinical trial, is the trial registered
on ANZCTR, NIH Clinical Trials or other
recognised registries?
What is the evidence that this treatment
will work for my condition?
Can you provide me with peer-reviewed
publications that can support the likely
benefit?
Have you published your data?
If so, where?
Are there any risks associated with the
treatment? What are the side-effects?
Could the cells harm me? Could they
form tumours or cause problems with
my immune system?
Are they human or from other
species and if so which?
Are the donor cells screened for viruses (HIV,
Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HTLV-1 and HTLV-2)?
Are the cells prepared in a licensed laboratory
or using an approved device?
And if so, by whom?
Do you use animal products to grow the
cells and how do you guarantee there
is no contamination?
Has this treatment been reviewed by an
ethics committee, and if so which one?
If offered in Australia, is this treatment
eligible for a Medicare or private health
insurance rebate?
Who is the doctor performing
the treatment?
Is he/she a specialist in treating
my condition?
Will I receive any other treatments or
therapies when I am at the clinic?
If so, does this attract an additional cost?
What ongoing care will I receive?
Does this attract additional charges?
How will my health be evaluated
after the treatment?
What happens if something goes
wrong? Who do I contact?
How are the cells delivered?
Are they injected?
Who will cover the costs of any
medical complications?
If so, what are the possible complications
of the injection?
If travelling overseas, will my travel
insurance cover my treatment?
Do I need to take medication after
the treatment?
Will my travel insurance help me get
home if I have a reaction or get sicker?
What is the cost and exactly what does
this include?
How many visits are required?
Is there a new fee for each visit?
Ask about medical care
and other considerations:
This checklist has been taken from the
Australian Stem Cell Handbook.
For more detailed information please
view this handbook at:
www.stemcellfoundation.net.au/patientinformation/handbook
If travelling overseas, are there likely
to be additional costs or are these
included in the fee (e.g., travel,
accommodation, meals, insurance,
medications, hospital bed costs,
consumables used during the
treatment, cell processing costs)?