Running head: Arguments Against stem cell Treatment

Critical Appraisal: Arguments Against Stem Cell Treatment

Alvin L. Rozier
College of Mt. St. Joseph

Arguments Against stem cell Treatment

Critical Appraisal: Arguments Against Stem Cell Use

A topic that has been causing a lot of controversy lately is the use of Stem Cells in
other medical procedures. The use of Stem Cells in the treatment of cancer has been around
since the 1960s when the first transplantations of bone marrow where perfected and conducted
(Hede, 2012). Although, full of promise, there does not seem to be any long term research to
indicate that Stem Cells be used for unproven medical practices, such as aesthetic or
experimental treatments, for diseases that are degenerative (Hede, 2012). This critical analysis
will introduce arguments that are not in favor of the use of Stem Cells in non-approved medical
procedures with out the adequate long term research to conclude that it is safe to do so (Hede,
2012).
In the first article discussed the author is against the use of Stem Cells in this medical
tourism approach to alleviate pain, suffering and cosmetic enhancement (Hede, 2012). The
author implies that there has not been adequate research into the long term ramifications of these
non-approved procedures (Hede, 2012). With out these long term studies indicating that these
other procedures that utilize the promise of Stem Cells, are considered safe, there could be a
breach in the trust of the people that the medical community serves which could prove to be
disastrous (Hede, 2012). There also seems to be little if any support from the FDA in using Stem
Cells in other medical procedures than cancer treatments (Hede, 2012). As of the time of the
article, there was only one state that was in the process of writing a law that would outlaw the
use of Stem Cells for non-approved medical procedures (Hede, 2012). An expert in the field of
Stem Cell research and a patent holder has suggested that there has been a breach of the
boundary separating valid research and experimentation (Hede, 2012).

Arguments Against stem cell Treatment

In the second article the researchers claim that the Stem Cell usage in medical procedures
cause an increased risk of suicide and accidental deaths following Stem Cell implantation
(Tichelli et al., 2013). This research article utilized the retrospective observational study design
to test their hypothesis (Tichelli et al., 2013). The use of Grays test, univariate and multivariate
analysis and the use of Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to analyze the data
that was collected which yielded a confidence interval of 95% and a p value=0.001 (Tichelli et
al., 2013). Collecting data from a large scale group of subjects was this studys major strength
(Tichelli et al., 2013).

Arguments Against stem cell Treatment

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References

Hede, K. (2012). Stem Cell Treatments Raise Thorny Questions for Researchers, Clinicians.
Journal of the National Cancer Institute , 104 (5), 347-349.
Rattue, G. (2012, My 25). Medical News Today Articles. Retrieved from Medical News Today:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/245821.php?nx
Tichelli, A. L., Labopin, M., Rovo, A., Badoglio, M., Arat, M., Van Lint, M.T., Socie, G.
(2013, March 19). Increase of Suicide and Accidental Death After Hematpoietic Stem
Cell Transplantation. Cancer , 2012-2021.