Timothy Caulfield - Canada
University of Alberta
Twisted Science, Tokens of Legitimacy & Unproven Stem Cell Therapies
LLM, FRSC, FCAHS
Canada Research Chair in Health Law & Policy
Professor, Faculty of Law and School of Public Health
Research Director, Health Law Institute, University of Alberta
Canada
The marketing of unproven stem cell therapies is a growing international policy dilemma. Leveraging the excitement surrounding the legitimately promising advances that have occurred in the field, clinics in jurisdictions all over the world, are using websites, social media, the registration of clinical trials, questionable research publications and word-of-mouth to attract patients. There is also a growing market for stem cell treatments for sports injuries, cosmetic issues and as an anti-aging tool. The exploitation of emerging fields of research – a phenomenon called scienceploitation – and the manipulation of “tokens of legitimacy” are becoming significant social issues that are relevant to other domains (e.g., personalized medicine and microbiome research). This presentation will explore: 1) the nature and scope of the problem; 2) the social and individual harms; 3) the drivers that have facilitated the growth of the industry; and 4) possible policy responses.
Profile Link:
https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/...
