Stem cell tourism and the power of hope - PubMed

Stem cell tourism and the power of hope

Charles E Murdoch et al. Am J Bioeth. 2010 May.

Abstract

This paper explores the notions of hope and how individual patient autonomy can trump carefully reasoned ethical concerns and policies intended to regulate stem cell transplants. We argue that the same limits of knowledge that inform arguments to restrain and regulate unproven treatments might also undermine our ability to comprehensively dismiss or condemn them. Incautiously or indiscriminately reasoned policies and attitudes may drive critical information and data underground, impel patients away from working with clinical researchers, and tread needlessly on hope, the essential motivator of patients, advocates and researchers alike. We offer recommendations to clinicians and health care providers to help balance the discourse with individuals seeking treatment while guarding against fraud, misconception, and patient harm.

Comment in

• Response to open peer commentaries on "Stem cell tourism and the power of hope".

  Murdoch CE, Scott CT. Murdoch CE, et al. Am J Bioeth. 2010 May;10(5):W1-3. doi: 10.1080/15265161.2010.481979. Am J Bioeth. 2010. PMID: 20461635 No abstract available.

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  McMahon D, Thorsteinsdóttir H. McMahon D, et al. Am J Bioeth. 2010 May;10(5):34-6. doi: 10.1080/15265161003754080. Am J Bioeth. 2010. PMID: 20461645 No abstract available.

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  Hauskeller C, Wilson-Kovacs D. Hauskeller C, et al. Am J Bioeth. 2010 May;10(5):38-40. doi: 10.1080/15265161003754064. Am J Bioeth. 2010. PMID: 20461647 No abstract available.

• Stem cell tourism--a challenge for trans-national governance.

  Shalev C. Shalev C. Am J Bioeth. 2010 May;10(5):40-2. doi: 10.1080/15265161003754049. Am J Bioeth. 2010. PMID: 20461648 No abstract available.

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  Dolan T. Dolan T. Am J Bioeth. 2010 May;10(5):43-5. doi: 10.1080/15265161003754056. Am J Bioeth. 2010. PMID: 20461649 No abstract available.

• Growth of an industry: how U.S. scientists and clinicians have enabled stem cell tourism.

  Devereaux M, Loring JF. Devereaux M, et al. Am J Bioeth. 2010 May;10(5):45-6. doi: 10.1080/15265161003769005. Am J Bioeth. 2010. PMID: 20461650 No abstract available.

• Hopes and illusions.

  Guest J, Anderson K. Guest J, et al. Am J Bioeth. 2010 May;10(5):47-8. doi: 10.1080/15265161003769146. Am J Bioeth. 2010. PMID: 20461651 No abstract available.

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