New Zealand - Stem cell procedure worries medical experts
Published: 9:25PM Thursday April 05, 2012 Source: ONE News
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/stem-cell-procedure-worries-medical-experts-4819454
Debate over stem cell treatment heats up (13:00) .
A controversial stem cell procedure now available in New Zealand is raising alarm bells with medical watchdogs.
The procedure has been hailed by some in the treatment of nervous system diseases such as multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy and is available in several countries.
But it has come under fire in the United States and Germany where patients have died after undergoing the therapy.
A Florida cardiologist is under investigation in the US after his patient went into cardiac arrest and died during the procedure.
Multiple sclerosis sufferer Kate is considering undergoing the procedure in the hope of improving the debilitating effects of her disease.
She has had a consultation with a cosmetic surgeon who is the only medical profession to offer the procedure in New Zealand.
But Kate told Close Up tonight that she is concerned no one in the medical profession is backing him.
Kate said he explains this by saying he is considered 'too innovative" but she said she is uncertain about what to do.
Caution urged
Medical experts in New Zealand are urging patients to be cautious as the procedure has not been subjected to a proper ethical review or medical trial to prove it has any benefits.
Medial Council of New Zealand chairman John Adams told Close Up that revolutionary procedures are important for the medical industry but patients must be made aware of the risks and potential side-effects of any untested procedure.
He said untested procedures such as stem cell therapy could be offered in New Zealand.
"It is important with very new and novel treatments where there are no research trials or evidence that backs up their use that it is done in the context of a proper ethical review and ethical trial," Dr Adams said.
"It's always possible to use new treatments but that needs to be done in a way that protects patients from any harm."
The procedure involves the removal of a patient's blood in order to extract stem cells.
The stem cells are then activated using a growth factor and transferred back into the patient in the hope they will repair damaged cells within the body.
Medical ethics lecturer Phillipa Malpas said minimising harm to the patient and respecting a patient's decision were the two central ethical considerations when it comes to untested medical procedures.
"Trust is absolutely central to that relationship. I think doctors have to act in their patients' best medical interests and I guess one question you might have here is 'is the doctor giving her an opportunity of hope or is he exploiting that vulnerability," said Malpas.
Published: 9:25PM Thursday April 05, 2012 Source: ONE News
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/stem-cell-procedure-worries-medical-experts-4819454
Debate over stem cell treatment heats up (13:00) .
A controversial stem cell procedure now available in New Zealand is raising alarm bells with medical watchdogs.
The procedure has been hailed by some in the treatment of nervous system diseases such as multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy and is available in several countries.
But it has come under fire in the United States and Germany where patients have died after undergoing the therapy.
A Florida cardiologist is under investigation in the US after his patient went into cardiac arrest and died during the procedure.
Multiple sclerosis sufferer Kate is considering undergoing the procedure in the hope of improving the debilitating effects of her disease.
She has had a consultation with a cosmetic surgeon who is the only medical profession to offer the procedure in New Zealand.
But Kate told Close Up tonight that she is concerned no one in the medical profession is backing him.
Kate said he explains this by saying he is considered 'too innovative" but she said she is uncertain about what to do.
Caution urged
Medical experts in New Zealand are urging patients to be cautious as the procedure has not been subjected to a proper ethical review or medical trial to prove it has any benefits.
Medial Council of New Zealand chairman John Adams told Close Up that revolutionary procedures are important for the medical industry but patients must be made aware of the risks and potential side-effects of any untested procedure.
He said untested procedures such as stem cell therapy could be offered in New Zealand.
"It is important with very new and novel treatments where there are no research trials or evidence that backs up their use that it is done in the context of a proper ethical review and ethical trial," Dr Adams said.
"It's always possible to use new treatments but that needs to be done in a way that protects patients from any harm."
The procedure involves the removal of a patient's blood in order to extract stem cells.
The stem cells are then activated using a growth factor and transferred back into the patient in the hope they will repair damaged cells within the body.
Medical ethics lecturer Phillipa Malpas said minimising harm to the patient and respecting a patient's decision were the two central ethical considerations when it comes to untested medical procedures.
"Trust is absolutely central to that relationship. I think doctors have to act in their patients' best medical interests and I guess one question you might have here is 'is the doctor giving her an opportunity of hope or is he exploiting that vulnerability," said Malpas.