Stem Cell Therapy: Fact? or Fiction?

Stem cells are the pluripotent cells responsible for healing and regeneration of the vaious organs that have been damaged like liver, skin and many more. It is present in the varous organs of our body and  has always been a subject of intense interest in the medical world for obvious reasons. While science can easily explain why cells or organs regenerate, it is very difficult to coax stem cells to become what we " scientists " want them to be. Just like anything else, it is easier said than done and it holds true for Stem cells as well.

The only medically approved and scientifically proven form of stem cell therapy to date is " Bone Marrow Transplantation " for patients suffering from various blood ailments like leukemia. Other than that, everything else that man wants the lay people to believe it can do is considered experimental and therefore of unproven benefit. These victims fall prey from friends giving them anecdotal claims of benefits from stem cell recipients. Have they not heard of  the word " Placebo effect? ", an effect where as much as 20-30% of patients may feel better even if they are not given real medicine?

We see a lot of patients fall for these unscrupulous medical practitioners promising rejuvenation as if they have finally solved the puzzle and the key to the fountain of youth. Typical patients include those that are elderly with a lot of money to splurge in the hope that they only lose money should it not work. These victims are victims of medical fraud much like " chelation for heart ailments " years back.....these would include the seemingly hopeless patients where medicine has reached the dead end and has nothing more to offer in terms of cure. 

To all patients considering stem cell therapy, I advise caution as this form of therapy is not scientifically proven and medical providers can't claim of any therapeutic benefit backed by randomized clinical trials at this time.  Until proven otherwise, I can only see " economics " as the main driving force for it's rapid growth in this country. This is not only unproven but also can be "potentially" harmful. 

To all medical professionals engaged in this form of therapy, I say to them, with the sincerest hope that they will remember our basic oath......our very own Hippocratic Oath we all subscribed to when we were sworn in as  Doctors of Medicine........that is...." To Do NO Harm ".