Professional Regulation: A Potentially Valuable Tool in Responding to ‘‘Stem Cell Tourism’’

Date
2014-09-09
Authors
Zarzeczny, Amy
Caulfield, Timothy
Ogbogu, Ubaka
Bell, Peter
Crooks, Valorie A.
Kamenova, Kalina
Master, Zubin
Rachul, Christen
Snyder, Jeremy
Toews, Maeghan
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier
Abstract

The growing international market for unproven stem cell-based interventions advertised on a direct-to-consumer basis over the internet (‘‘stem cell tourism’’) is a source of concern because of the risks it presents to patients as well as their supporters, domestic health care systems, and the stem cell research field. Emerging responses such as public and health provider-focused education and national regulatory efforts are encouraging, but the market continues to grow. Physicians play a number of roles in the stem cell tourism market and, in many jurisdictions, are members of a regulated profession. In this article, we consider the use of professional regulation to address physician involvement in stem cell tourism. Although it is not without its limitations, professional regulation is a potentially valuable tool that can be employed in response to problematic types of physician involvement in the stem cell tourism market.

Description
Keywords
Professional regulation, stem cell tourism, medical ethics
Citation
Stem Cell Reports j Vol. 3 j 379–384 j September 9, 2014