Stem cell clinics in the UK: a web-based study

Sami Kamel; Kevin R Smith

doi:10.2217/rme-2021-0072

Stem cell clinics in the UK: a web-based study

Sami Kamel
, Kevin R Smith^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Built Environment and Life Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

376 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Aim: Explore the nature and extent of web-based promotion of stem cell treatments marketed by clinics in the UK. Materials & methods: Web-based analysis of clinics in the UK using predefined variables, with analysis of eligible clinics according to preset criteria of ethical relevance. Results: A majority (79%) of UK clinics were judged to be problematic. Information was found to be lacking, misleading or otherwise problematic in several respects, including a lack of information on risks of adverse effects, unjustifiably optimistic depictions of therapeutic effectiveness, and questionable presentational approaches such as the use of celebrity patient testimonials. Conclusion: In a majority of cases, commercial clinics in the UK portray stem cell therapies on their websites in ethically questionable ways.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1029-1036
Number of pages	8
Journal	Regenerative Medicine
Volume	16
Issue number	12
Early online date	11 Nov 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.2217/rme-2021-0072
Publication status	Published - 1 Dec 2021

Keywords

Direct-to-consumer
Ethics
Informed consent
Legislation
Marketing
Policy
Stem cells

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abstract = "Aim: Explore the nature and extent of web-based promotion of stem cell treatments marketed by clinics in the UK. Materials \& methods: Web-based analysis of clinics in the UK using predefined variables, with analysis of eligible clinics according to preset criteria of ethical relevance. Results: A majority (79\%) of UK clinics were judged to be problematic. Information was found to be lacking, misleading or otherwise problematic in several respects, including a lack of information on risks of adverse effects, unjustifiably optimistic depictions of therapeutic effectiveness, and questionable presentational approaches such as the use of celebrity patient testimonials. Conclusion: In a majority of cases, commercial clinics in the UK portray stem cell therapies on their websites in ethically questionable ways.",

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AB - Aim: Explore the nature and extent of web-based promotion of stem cell treatments marketed by clinics in the UK. Materials & methods: Web-based analysis of clinics in the UK using predefined variables, with analysis of eligible clinics according to preset criteria of ethical relevance. Results: A majority (79%) of UK clinics were judged to be problematic. Information was found to be lacking, misleading or otherwise problematic in several respects, including a lack of information on risks of adverse effects, unjustifiably optimistic depictions of therapeutic effectiveness, and questionable presentational approaches such as the use of celebrity patient testimonials. Conclusion: In a majority of cases, commercial clinics in the UK portray stem cell therapies on their websites in ethically questionable ways.

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Stem cell clinics in the UK: a web-based study

Abstract

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