Deceptive Stem Cell Therapy

People spend billions of dollars each year on health-related products and treatments that don’t deliver. People who buy them are cheated out of their money, their time, and even their health.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports  that California-based Regenerative Medical Group, Telehealth Medical Group, and Dr. Bryn Jarald Henderson, the founder of both companies, sold false hope at high prices.

These companies and Dr. Henderson used social media and websites to promote stem cell therapy for all kinds of health issues affecting older adults and children. Supposedly, it could treat and cure diseases and health conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, autism, dementia, depression, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, heart disease, macular degeneration, chronic kidney disease, osteoarthritis, and stroke. Dr. Gunderson  charged up to $15,000 for their initial stem cell therapy and up to $8,000 for follow-up treatments.

But, according to the FTC, these claims were not backed up by any scientific studies and, in fact, no studies have established that stem cells cure, treat, or reduce the severity of diseases or health conditions in humans. With the exception of a few FDA-approved treatments, stem cell therapy is still largely experimental.

Are you — or someone you know — thinking about stem cell therapy?  If so,

• Be skeptical about amazing health claims.
• Don’t trust a website just because it looks professional, uses medical terms, or has success stories from “real people.”
• Talk to your health care professional before you consider any medical treatment.

For more information, click here.

Teaching Suggestions

•  Help students understand that health information, whether online or in print, should come from a trusted source.
• Let students make a list of the richest and most reliable sources of health information and share it with the class.

Discussion Questions

1. Why is it important to seek a second or even third opinion from a qualified health care provider before trying experimental medical procedures?
2. What can the FTC and other federal/state governmental agencies do to prevent such businesses to make deceptive treatments.