Stem cell Tourism: Assessing the State of Knowledge

Title: Stem cell Tourism: Assessing the State of Knowledge
Format: Journal Article
Publication Date: 2010
Published In: SCRIPTed: A Journal of Law, Science and Technology
Description: Policy concern about patients traveling in search of unproven stem cell based interventions (SCBIs) – a practice known as “stem c ell tourism” – has grown in recent years. These concerns are driven by the lack of convincing evidence of the safety or efficacy of these interventions and the resulting worry that individuals pursuing these unproven treatments may be putting themselves unnecessarily at risk and, perhaps, hindering legitimate translational stem cell research. This article reviews existing literature on stem cell tourism, focusing in particular on what is known about the providers of unproven SCBIs, the patients who pursue these interventions, and the outcomes of such interventions. The article concludes by highlighting gaps in the existing literature base and suggesting questions f or future investigation.
Citation: SCRIPTed: A Journal of Law, Science and Technology. 7. Issue 2. 274 - 282. DOI 10.2966/scrip.070210.274.
Related Departments:
  • School of Public Policy