Editing Stem cell (section)

=== Stem cell tourism ===
Stem cell tourism is the part of the [[medical tourism]] industry in which patients  travel to  obtain stem cell procedures.<ref>
  {{cite journal |last1=Bauer |first1=G |last2=Elsallab |first2=M |last3=Abou-El-Enein |first3=M |title=Concise Review: A Comprehensive Analysis of Reported Adverse Events in Patients Receiving Unproven Stem Cell-Based Interventions |journal=Stem Cells Translational Medicine |date=September 2018 |volume=7 |issue=9 |pages=676–685 |doi=10.1002/sctm.17-0282 |pmid=30063299 |pmc=6127222}}
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The United States  has had an explosion of "stem cell clinics".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Blackwell |first=Tom |date=2016-07-13 |title=Study reveals explosion of unproven stem-cell treatment in U.S. — and many Canadians are seeking them out |language=en |work=National Post |url=https://nationalpost.com/health/study-reveals-explosion-of-unproven-stem-cell-treatment-in-u-s-and-many-canadians-are-seeking-them-out |access-date=2022-03-22}}</ref>  Stem cell procedures are highly profitable for clinics.  The advertising sounds authoritative but the efficacy and safety of the procedures is unproven.  Patients sometimes experience complications, such as spinal tumors<ref name="Berkowitz et al 2016">{{cite journal |last1=Berkowitz |first1=Aaron L. |last2=Miller |first2=Michael B. |last3=Mir |first3=Saad A. |last4=Cagney |first4=Daniel |last5=Chavakula |first5=Vamsidhar |last6=Guleria |first6=Indira |last7=Aizer |first7=Ayal |last8=Ligon |first8=Keith L. |last9=Chi |first9=John H. |title=Glioproliferative Lesion of the Spinal Cord as a Complication of 'Stem-Cell Tourism' |journal=New England Journal of Medicine |date=14 July 2016 |volume=375 |issue=2 |pages=196–198 |doi=10.1056/NEJMc1600188 |pmid=27331440 |doi-access=free }}</ref> and death. The high expense can also lead to financial problems.<ref name="Berkowitz et al 2016"/> According to researchers, there is a need to educate the public, patients, and doctors about this issue.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bowman |first1=Michelle |last2=Racke |first2=Michael |last3=Kissel |first3=John |last4=Imitola |first4=Jaime |title=Responsibilities of Health Care Professionals in Counseling and Educating Patients With Incurable Neurological Diseases Regarding 'Stem Cell Tourism': Caveat Emptor |journal=JAMA Neurology |date=1 November 2015 |volume=72 |issue=11 |pages=1342–1345 |doi=10.1001/jamaneurol.2015.1891 |pmid=26322563 }}
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According to the [[International Society for Stem Cell Research]], the largest academic organization that advocates for stem cell research, stem cell therapies are under development and cannot yet be said to be proven.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.isscr.org/news-publicationsss/isscr-news-articles/blog-detail/stem-cells-in-focus/2019/11/12/communicating-about-unproven-stem-cell-treatments-to-the-public|title=Communicating About Unproven Stem Cell Treatments to the Public}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Tsou |first1=Amy |title=Ethical Considerations When Counseling Patients About Stem Cell Tourism |journal=Continuum: Lifelong Learning in Neurology |date=February 2015 |volume=21 |issue=1 Spinal Cord Disorders |pages=201–205 |doi=10.1212/01.CON.0000461094.76563.be |pmid=25651226 }}</ref> Doctors should inform patients that clinical trials continue to investigate whether these therapies are safe and effective but that unethical clinics present them as proven.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Du |first1=Li |last2=Rachul |first2=Christen |last3=Guo |first3=Zhaochen |last4=Caulfield |first4=Timothy |title=Gordie Howe's 'Miraculous Treatment': Case Study of Twitter Users' Reactions to a Sport Celebrity's Stem Cell Treatment |journal=JMIR Public Health and Surveillance |date=9 March 2016 |volume=2 |issue=1 |pages=e8 |doi=10.2196/publichealth.5264 |pmid=27227162 |pmc=4869214 |doi-access=free }}</ref>