Stem cell investigation and ad an odd pairing Read more online

On Dec. 3, the Sun Sentinel published a front-page story (“Desperation, danger at clinics”) detailing the fraud perpetrated on vulnerable people promised miracle cures from stem cell treatments.

It is evident the story was well researched and well written. It is this kind of journalism that should be praised. The article states “stem cell clinics that sell these procedures have taken advantage of unclear guidelines” and that “patients are paying the price.”

However, there was a full-page advertisement on page 8A for a stem cell clinic and seminar. The ad seems to make many claims detailed in the investigative article, such as how stem cells “can prevent disease,” stem cells “can help prolong your life” and relieve chronic joint pain.

Clearly the Sentinel is benefiting from the revenue received from a full-page ad in the Sunday paper paid for by the very “patients ... paying the price” for these clinics. Is this negligence or just irony? SunSentinel.com/opinion/ letters

and supervision by the FDA.

Furthermore, the Board of Medicine states that many of the clinics’ websites frame their work as experimental, although none of the clinics are conducting FDA-approved clinical trials. Once patients are accepted and enrolled in such a trial, they should be reimbursed for their participation and not be charged.

In my opinion the strict enforcement of existing regulations will force those crooks in a white coat to seek their fortunes elsewhere.