Oral Presentation 6th Australian Health and Medical Research Congress 2012

Unproven stem cell treatments in our own backyard -  Why stem cell “tourism” is not the only ethical concern. (#41)

Dominique Martin 1 , Megan Munsie 2
  1. Centre for Health and Society, School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
  2. Stem Cells Australia, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia

This paper reviews the provision of unproven autologous stem cell treatments by medical practitioners within Australia and contrasts this practice with international travel for unproven stem cell treatments by Australian patients. The sale of unproven treatments within Australia, which exploits a loophole in the TGA Act, may occur outside the confines of ethically regulated formal clinical trials, exposing patients to many of the risks encountered in so-called “stem cell tourism”. Despite widespread debate about international travel for unproven stem cell treatments, and efforts to warn prospective patients about the risks they may encounter abroad, little attention has been paid to domestic activities. In this paper, we highlight the ethical concerns of selling unproven treatments within Australia and propose strategies that may help to protect patients.