Megan Munsie1, Tamra Lysaght2, Tereza Hendl3, Hui-Yin Lynn Tan2, Ian Kerridge3,4, Cameron Stewart5. 1. Centre for Stem Cell Systems, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia. 2. Centre for Biomedical Ethics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 119228, Singapore. 3. Center for Values, Ethics & the Law in Medicine, University of Sydney, Australia. 4. Hematology Department, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, Sydney, Australia. 5. Sydney Law School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Abstract
Aim: This article examines online marketing practices of Japanese and Australian clinics offering putative autologous stem cell treatments. Materials & methods: We conducted google searches for keywords related to stem cell therapy and stem cell clinics in English and Japanese. Results: We identified websites promoting 88 point-of-sale clinics in Japan and 70 in Australia. Conclusion: Our findings provide further evidence of the rapid global growth in clinics offering unproven stem cell interventions. We also show that these clinics adopt strategies to promote their services as though they are consistent with evidentiary and ethical standards of science, research and medicine. Unless addressed, these practices risk harming not only vulnerable patients but also undermining public trust in science and medicine.
Aim: This article examines online marketing practices of Japanese and Australian clinics offering putative autologous stem cell treatments. Materials & methods: We conducted google searches for keywords related to stem cell therapy and stem cell clinics in English and Japanese. Results: We identified websites promoting 88 point-of-sale clinics in Japan and 70 in Australia. Conclusion: Our findings provide further evidence of the rapid global growth in clinics offering unproven stem cell interventions. We also show that these clinics adopt strategies to promote their services as though they are consistent with evidentiary and ethical standards of science, research and medicine. Unless addressed, these practices risk harming not only vulnerable patients but also undermining public trust in science and medicine.
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