Stem Cell Therapy and Medical Tourism: Of Promise and Peril?
Experimental breakthroughs within the field of regenerative medicine are reported in the media on a daily basis worldwide. Despite this progress, the overwhelming majority of clinical problems for which stem cell-based intervention offers hope remain therapeutically unproven, and a major gap exists between current public understanding and the availability of innovative therapies.
This event featured a distinguished panel of speakers addressing various aspects of medical tourism for stem cell therapy. Presentations covered the state of stem cell science, historical context and comparisons related to earlier instances of medical utopianism, empirical data on the nature of stem cell tourism, how to address patient hopes in the realm of unproven therapies, and special issues related to stem cell tourism by parents for their children.
The event was moderated by M. William Lensch, Harvard Stem Cell Institute. Speakers and topics included:
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Brock Reeve, Harvard Stem Cell Institute: Welcome and Introductory Remarks
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George Q. Daley, Harvard Stem Cell Institute: "Stem Cells: The Gap Between Current Science and Clinical Implementation"
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Jill Lepore, Harvard University: "Resurrection, Past and Present"
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Tim Caulfield, University of Alberta: "Stem Cell Tourism: Is the Problem Getting Worse?"
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Insoo Hyun, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine: "Therapeutic Hope and Its Challenges for Rational Ethical Discourse"
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I. Glenn Cohen, Petrie-Flom Center, Harvard Law School: "Stem Cell Tourism, Children, Abuse, and Reporting"
Co-sponsored by the Harvard Stem Cell Institute.
Tags
bioethics children's health international medical safety medical tourism stem cells