21st Century Snake Oil

We set up hidden cameras in Martin's home in Houston and invited ALS sufferer Steven Watters to pose as an interested patient. Stowe came on crutches; he's missing a leg which he says he lost to cancer.

Everyone in the room knew about our hidden cameras except Stowe. Stowe had claimed what he called a "permanent fix" for ALS. So we gave Watters questions to ask about Stowe's therapy.

"So is there a permanent fix from the stem cells?" Watters asked.

"Oh, yes. Yeah. You'll be able to…," Stowe replied.

"Exercise again?" Watters asked.

"…exercise again. Oh, yeah," Stowe said.

"If I opt for the permanent fix, will I avoid a feeding tube? Will it keep me out of a wheelchair?" Watters asked.

"Yeah. Oh, yeah, absolutely. We've gotten people out of wheelchairs," Stowe replied.

"Am I gonna get closer and closer to, at some point you can say, 'Okay, you're cured. You're healed from this disease'?" Watters asked.

"I believe that that is 100 percent possible. Because we've done it with other conditions. I mean, we've done it with cancer, you know, which is just a different form of tissue destruction," Stowe replied.

"Didn't your mother have cancer?" Martin asked.

"My mother had pancreatic cancer and we completely reversed her pancreatic cancer. She died cancer-free with a healthy pancreas," Stowe said.

"What will it cost me for the permanent fix?" Watters asked.

"That'll be around $125,000. 'Cause it's $50,000 for phase one; the stem cell transplant is gonna run you around $25,000; and then, we do follow up therapy after that to make sure the results hold, and that's another $50,000," Stowe explained.

Stowe told them they would have to travel to Monterrey, Mexico, for the treatment. He said his research associate there would take blood-forming stem cells harvested from umbilical cords or bone marrow and inject those cells into their spines. Those blood cells, he said, would transform into nerve or neural tissue that would reconnect with their muscles.

"Is there a stem cell fix for ALS?" Pelley asked Professor Sean Morrison, the director of the University of Michigan Center for Stem Cell Biology.

"No," Professor Morrison replied.

Morrison's lab is one of the world's leading stem cell research centers.

"So, when Stowe says he's going to take blood-forming stem cells and put them in the spinal cord to create neural cells, what do you make of that?" Pelley asked.

"You know, we study blood-forming stem cells every day in this lab, including umbilical cord blood cells, and blood-forming stem cells don't make nervous system tissue," Morrison explained.

"And then what do the injected stem cells do next?" Watters asked Larry Stowe.

"They start to regenerate your nerve tissue and repair the synapses," Stowe replied.

Stowe's incredible pitch often works because his victims have heard something about the promise of stem cells but don't really know much about them. At one time, some scientists thought that blood-forming stem cells could replace any kind of tissue, as Stowe claims. But science now knows that's wrong.

Stem cell therapy is the standard of care in only leukemia and certain, rare, diseases of the blood - nothing else. There is very early research into whether stem cells might one day help ALS patients, but nothing like the claims Stowe is making.

Dr. Morrison thinks breakthroughs are years or decades away. He says Stowe's claims are baseless.

"Classically, people are reporting three to four weeks that they begin to notice the effects," Stowe said.

"Notice the effects in three or four weeks," Pelley remarked.

"You might notice side effects in three to four weeks," Morrison replied.

"You described it as miraculous, that's what it would be," Pelley said.

"If somebody squirted some stem cells into the spinal cord of an ALS patient and they stood up out of their wheelchair and had a permanent fix, that would be miraculous," Morrison replied.

But that's what Stowe was promising in Michael Martin's living room as he weaved a pitch with lies of legitimacy.

"Are you currently working with anybody in the FDA regarding…," Watters asked.

"Oh, yeah. Yeah, we…at all levels," Stowe replied.

Even the University of Texas, he said, was planning to build a research center with a particular name. "Stowe Research Center for Regenerative Medicine in affiliation with the University of Texas. You can't find a surgeon in the world who doesn't support our approach," Stowe explained.

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[smilecbs]

Where did Bartola Colon or what is his name? Where did he have his stem cell therapy done?

[BAGSR]

MEDRA is a huge scam. They even give you a folder on fundraising in order to come up with the $30,000.00 they charge for the treatment. They also will not give you the address for the facility that will treat you, and will have John Brower give you a follow up call. John Brower is not this person's real name by the way. He tried convince me of the treatment. I wanted to believe him and his wife so badly that I drove to the Long Island office of john Brower, and got nothing but lots of talk and info on how to fund raise. I just wanted to help my parents.

[BAGSR]

I would really like to know if these men have been arrested. They deserve to be treated like the criminals they are and by what ever agency whether its the state, county , or federal government and by the agency or combination of agencies that offers the greatest penalty for their crimes. I would rather see the IRS receive their ill gotten money than to learn they were able to hide their profits in a place where law enforcement cannot locate. But first they should be made to pay restitution to the surviving victims and their caregivers or family members. These men are stealing from a vulnerable population, and they are as disgusting and as sick as people that prey on children. I know they are under investigation, but are they incarcerated? They are a danger to society, and I am grateful for the airing of this special. I would love to see a follow up of their prosecution. I suffer every day watching my father deteriorate from ALS. I know there is no treatment or cure but, now that I'm aware I will make sure that these scam artist will not get a crack at my parents and cause further devastation than that which the disease already and will further inflict. People with neuromuscular diseases need more advocates. This broadcast has made a faithful fan out me and my family. Thank you

[GeraldElliott]

I was diagnosed with Beckers Muscular Dystrophy in 2007 just before I turned 61. A year ago I made the decision to have stem cell treatment, which was done on Nov3,2009. Within 36 hours there was a substantial improvement in my condition. I was able to get into a hotel shuttle van with no assistance and much less effort than the night before. As well my walking was so improved over the next 2 weeks, that my cane was no longer required.Without the stem cells, I would probably be in a wheel chair by now.
I approached the treatment with a very positive attitude even though the clinic could not give me any guarantees as to the results.
I looked at the treatment in 3 possibe outcomes- 1. Slow down the MD, or 2 Stop the MD or 3 Reverse the MD and forunately iwas reversed. I did not get a full recovery and probably never will- my balance is still off and I have difficulty getting up off the floor. But I am still walking without any assistance and I am still able to work in my shop.
Where was the treatment done?- in Neuvo Progrosso,Mexico through the International Stem Cell Institute based in the US at the Integra Medical Clinic by Dr. Omar Gonzales.
Would I go again? Yes, without question
What was the cost? $10,000.00 US including a $1000.00 down payment.
plus travel for my wife and I.
Was the treatment successful and did it meet my expectations?-very successful and beyond my expectations.
What is my point? Not all stem cell treatments are scams run by con-artists and you should not be implying that Stem Cell Treatment
does not work period. I and many others treated at this clinic at living proof that it does indeeed work for MD, Parkinsons, some forms
of MS, arthritis and some cancers. You could be correct about ALS.
It doesn't work for everyone but all stem cell treatments should be painted with the same brush.
How about doing an article on the positive side of Stem Cell treatment.
Feel free to contact me at any time I do have a copy of a local newspaper article plus an interview conducted by the local CTV station and a before-treatment video done by a friend.
Gerald Elliott
Fall River , Nova Scotia
Canada

[ShauneP]

Gerald; my name is Shaune, and I'm from Edmonton but living in Milan, Italy. I would love to ask you some questions about this clinic, as I have a colleague here in Italy that is looking at going to the same clinic as I think you were treated at.

[smartpatient]

Both of my parents developed cancer. My mom got developed breast cancer. An under-skilled female surgeon performed a lumpectomy (January 2001). The surgeon did not get clean margins and wanted to chop on my mom, again. My mom said, "Noway!" My mom had to have the surgery re-done at a different hospital by a decent surgeon at KU.

The follow up surgery treatment was many rounds of Radiation, but no Chemo was prescribed (Feb-May).

November 2001 my mom went for her health exam and was told that she was cancer free. December 25th, my mom's speech began slurring. The first week of January, my mom was given several scans and tests. They were trying to rule out TIA or tumors. A chest x-ray revealed a golf ball sized tumor developed in her right lung (same side where the radiation had been given). A lung doctor took a biopsy of this cancer. The doctors were assuming and certain it was probably breast cancer that had spread. Surprisingly, it was not. It was a totally new cancer that had developed. But they did not bother to tell our family that it was caused by the radiation (used to treat the breast cancer). The lung doctor removed 1/3 ot 1/2 of my mom's right lung (Feb. 2002). May 2002 my mom seemed to have, had a stroke. Her right side was weak. July 2002 she was getting worse. August 22, my mom began shaking and throwing up. She was admitted to the hospital. Tumors were found covering her brain. August 30th, my mom died.

My father died of cancer 6 months later. He had small cell lung cancer (we thank the Tobacco industry for getting him started on smoking when they passed out free cigs during World War II). My dad did not have surgery, he did have chemo (the chemo doctor bragged, to us, about how business was booming and that he would have to expand the size of his office), and he underwent radiation.

I have concluded that Cancer is big $$$ business. I do not believe that these traditional approaches work for the majority of folks. Both my parents died terrible deaths. There must be ways for people to have alternative methods available that insurance companies can afford. I know that Trichostatin A (is in the works). It makes more sense to use the body's own natural defense to tackle the cancer. Why use poison to destroy everything in the body. This is just feeding the greedy Cancer Medical Industry and doing little to improve the quality of a persons life.

The vital issue is for all people to stop using artifical chemicals in their bodies and in the environment. Cancer is caused by mutations of the body cells. Those don't just happen, they are happening because of an exposure to something not natural. Let's stop making the Cancer Industry people richer.

I miss my parents and I would never let another family member or myself undergo any of those idiotic cancer treatments.

[smartpatient]

I am glad this Medical fraud was exposed. An even bigger Fraud is happening down at MD Anderson (Houston). There is a specific doctor that likes to put people through Several CAT scans, give them blood thinner, than seek to remove multiple organs (even when they don't have confirmed cases of cancer). Most of his patients are senior citizens. But, I am a patient that questioned him and sought more than one opinion. As it turned out, I did not have cancer at all. Another top Cancer surgeon (at KU) discovered it was a Pseudocyst that resolved on its own. I did not need any form of surgery not even a biopsy. What is chilling is that I was nearly taken to the surgery room at MD Anderson. I tried to get help from their Patient Advocy. I was ignored and turned over to their risk management. I called Houston lawyers and one was honest. She told me that the Medical profession has bought off Texas lawmakers. Now, you cannot sue for Medical Malpractice or Negligance in that Lone Star State. I tried to file a complaint with the Texas Medical board and met with road blocks. Do not ever go to MD Anderson in Houston Texas. Go somewhere else to get Medical help!!!

[tvicknair]

This was a good report, except that it painted stem cell treatments with a broad brush. It not look at stem cell treatment in Europe, possibly the most regulated place on the planet. Europe exceeds the US in legitimate medical advances in use. Beyond Leukemia, stem cells are being used with rates of success higher than chemotherapy with certain diseases and condition, although these success vary widely. Success depends on how well the patients are screened, which technique is used and the disease or condition for which the patients are being treated.

[TheRealArtVandelay]

Wow, what a one-sided, deceptive report. I urge folks to check out thestowefoundation dot org to hear another side of this story.

[BAGSR]

you must work for them, or profit from them. You might actually be Stowe!

[tvicknair]

This was a good report, except that it painted stem cell treatments with a broad brush. It not look at stem cell treatment in Europe, possibly the most regulated place on the planet. Europe exceeds the US in legitimate medical advances in use. Beyond Leukemia, stem cells are being used with rates of success higher than chemotherapy with certain diseases and condition, although these success vary widely. Success depends on how well the patients are screened, which technique is used and the disease or condition for which the patients are being treated.

[hdc77494]

How about doing an expose on the snake oil salesmen who lied about the dangers of DDT leading to the deaths of millions to malaria, and has led to an epidemic of bed bugs in New York and elsewhere?