Misao Fujita1, Taichi Hatta1, Reina Ozeki2, Akira Akabayashi2. 1. Uehiro Research Division for iPS Cell Ethics, Center for iPS Cell Research & Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan. 2. Department of Biomedical Ethics, The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.
Abstract
AIM: To clarify the current state of clinics in Japan that offer unproven cell therapies. METHODS: Google searches were performed to collect and analyze what kind of clinics provide what kind of cell therapies. RESULTS: A total of 74 clinics and 247 cases of cell therapies were identified. Various cell therapies, including allograft, were provided not only to seriously ill patients but also to patients with other therapeutic options and healthy individuals. DISCUSSION: Although the practices revealed by our study seem to deviate from international standard, some of these can be construed as legal under the Japanese new act established in 2014. CONCLUSION: Considering many patients travel to foreign countries to seek therapy, more research from non-English-speaking countries is needed.
AIM: To clarify the current state of clinics in Japan that offer unproven cell therapies. METHODS: Google searches were performed to collect and analyze what kind of clinics provide what kind of cell therapies. RESULTS: A total of 74 clinics and 247 cases of cell therapies were identified. Various cell therapies, including allograft, were provided not only to seriously ill patients but also to patients with other therapeutic options and healthy individuals. DISCUSSION: Although the practices revealed by our study seem to deviate from international standard, some of these can be construed as legal under the Japanese new act established in 2014. CONCLUSION: Considering many patients travel to foreign countries to seek therapy, more research from non-English-speaking countries is needed.
Entities:
Keywords:
Japan; cell therapies; medical tourism; regulations; unproven