A private clinic offering stem cell treatments has been closed by the Costa Rican government due to little evidence that the treatments work.
Doctors at the Cell Medicine clinic were extracting stem cells from patients' fat tissue, bone marrow and donated umbilical cords. These were subsequently re-injected as treatment for conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS), arthritis, diabetes and spinal injuries, Reuters reports.
The Costa Rican Health Ministry said that despite the clinic's permission to store adult stem cells, it had no authorisation to perform treatments with them.
Dr Ileana Herrera, chief of the Health Ministry's research council, told Reuters: 'If [stem cell treatment's] efficiency and safety has not been proven, we don't believe it should be used. As a Health Ministry we must always protect the human being'.
The International Society of Stem Cell Research claimed clinical trials were 'ambiguous' and treatments based on anecdotal success could be manipulative. However Brazil, China, India, Panama, Russia and until recently, Costa Rica, have offered treatments, bringing in thousands of Westerners as well as locals.
Patients who reported improvements in their conditions said Costa Rica's decision blocked development. 'I think it's ridiculous' said Cranston Rodgers from Las Vegas, who was treated at the clinic three years ago for MS. 'I know what it did for me. I haven't used a cane or a scooter since'.
According to the New Scientist, Cell Medicine describes their decision to leave Costa Rica as being due to 'unpredictable and arbitrary' regulations and would now focus on expanding its Panamanian operations.
Neil Riordan, owner of the San Jose clinic, said the treatment was groundbreaking. 'I've seen more medical firsts in four years than probably most people have in their lives', he told Reuters. In neighbouring Panama he runs a larger, similar clinic, the Stem Cell Institute, which remains open.
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