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Stem Cell Fraud: A 60 Minutes investigation

January 8, 2012 5:20 PM

The Internet is full of websites selling unproven stem cell treatments for incurable illnesses. Scott Pelley confronts one disgraced doctor offering false hope to a family with a disabled child.

Stem Cell Fraud: A 60 Minutes investigation

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by aliceste March 16, 2013 8:40 PM EDT
Northwestern Univ in Chicago, Dept of Immunotherapy, has FOR YEARS been using autologous stem cells to CURE AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES, I.E.-MS & CIDP & are now treating Scleraderma & Lupus with it. My son was sent home to die an agonizing death by Stanford, UC San Francisco, & Mayo in Minn. They had nothing for him. His SCT was done 3/3/10 & he was walking within 4 months. Yet today, 4 years later, his neurologist at UCSF doesn't want to hear about it. It's like, if they don't know about it, it doesn't exist. Scott Pelley & Dr. Kurzberg refused to retract her blanket statement that "At this time, there is no cure for MS." People have been dying unnecessarily for YEARS because arrogant docs won't acknowledge facts derived from Medical Centers not their own. I have sent both Kurzberg & CBS the evidence, to no response.
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by lisaJFr February 26, 2013 6:59 PM EST
Just to keep everyone updated about leading USA Stem Cell Quacks.

William C Rader has changed the name of Medra to "Stem Cells of America". It appears he now works out of Mexico. Google "Rip off William C Rader"
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by goodfriends61 August 26, 2012 11:43 PM EDT
Right there is a member of our support group that is receiving a stem cell transplant for Relapsing Polychrondritis a rare auto immune condition at Pittsburgh Children's Hospital and this his lst best hope...but to do he has endured every medicine and treatment available...another members husband had one for incurable cancer....and Northwestern here in Chicago has program using stem cells for MS...Please talk about what is being done nd I agree the fraudster need to be flushed out.
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by Shanna65560 May 5, 2012 10:50 PM EDT
My husband had a Stroke in Jan. 2012. We are looking into stem cell therapy. Currently, we are leaning toward Dr. Raider. Any comments you can give are more than welcome!! Thanks
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by wethepeopleforthepeople February 7, 2012 1:29 AM EST
In Fairness, why doesn't 60 Minutes do a piece chronicling a true life account of some that HAS REALLY benefited from Stem cell therapies. there are 110s if not 1000s. I would personally be happy to arrange this for one of my friends,65yrs old, who until 1 1/2 months ago could no longer drive a car for more than 10 minutes, nor play squash for the past 6 yrs. both of which he can now once again do, due directly to the stem cell therapy he received, both IV infusion and injection into his shoulder. Perhaps we can also invite PHIZER to sponsor this episode. looking forward to hearing from 60 minutes...
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by topssy-2009 January 13, 2012 8:22 AM EST
rely what's d deal sealing and dont have a lab! onlie business its realy doing it.
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by WendWii January 12, 2012 3:24 PM EST
The catalyst for 60 Minutes investigation into stem cell tourism was Malibu stem cell charlatan, doctor William C Rader of Medra. BBC's investigative program Panorama exposed Dr Rader's seedy behavior in "Stem Cells and Miracles. Google the title to watch on youtube. Medra offers supposed fetal stem cell injections in the Dominican Republic and Tijuana for $30,000 with a follow-up of 12,500. Just google "Medra scam" for the story.
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by smarsman January 11, 2012 10:11 AM EST
That should have read "And although this doctor is definitely NOT the most ethical..."
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by smarsman January 11, 2012 10:07 AM EST
Once again, 60 Minutes has done a hatchet job on stem cells without bothering to speak with any of the thousands of people who have gained symptomatic relief from their use. And although this doctor is definitely the most ethical, he never once promised a cure but rather stated there was a good chance for improvement. The level of ignorance is astounding and is it any coincidence that this was sponsored by Pfizer?

I have personally spent time with a number of patients who have gotten varying degrees of symptomatic relief. I spent over an hour with a man from Romania who was flat on his bed for seven years from a spinal cord injury who can now hold himself up while sitting, has regained 100% bowel control, can raise his arms into the air and he claims he has up to 80% feeling down to his feet. Is this a cure? NO! But it is a vast improvement in his quality of life. US doctors have told me that the stem cell treatments probably didn't help that this was because sometimes nerves just spontaneously regenerate. Ignorance--as in ignoring what is obvious to all of us. Search for Gabi on you tube and you can see his own testimonials.

I have met several times with Macy Grey, a teenager from Ft Collins who was legally blind and now is driving as well as a number of other children with ONH and SOD who have had significant improvements in their vision. I have seen a number of CP patients who have lost the muscle contractions and clenching that requires care to help them unfold their arms and fingers. Some of the patients have made eye contact with their parents for the first time. Is this a cure? NO!! But is their quality of life and those around them who care for them easier and improved? Absolutely.

I would like to see CBS and 60 Minutes do a report on these stories, but I don't think Pfizer will pay for the advertising on it until they are able to patent an off the shelf allogeneic product that they can profit billions from. And idiots who post that there are no stem cells in umbilical cord blood and tissue, or those who think umbilical cord or placenta derived cells are embryonic stem cells, should educate themselves. Just look at the work being done by companies all over the world with these long telomere, alive stem cells.
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by specneeds_parent January 10, 2012 11:59 PM EST
CBS News and 60 Minutes have previously done some good work in this area, but this latest 'Story' appears to lack due diligence (research) and credibility on the part of CBS, because it is so one-sided.

Regardless of the specifics of this family and ex-doctor, it is hard to believe CBS is unaware of the legitimate scientific research and clinical trials currently being conducted in the US and in Mexico.
My wife and I found one of these reputable hospitals and clinical trials - for Intrathecal Autologous Total Nucleated Cells for Children with Brain Injury, on the US National Institutes of Health website...clinicaltrials.gov
While the results are imperfect, and more trials are necessary, there is some very good work being done in this area. And some families with special needs children, such as CP, are very happy with early indications/outcomes from these treatments.

Yes there is good reason for caution, and need to expose the fraudulent clinics and quasi-medical operations...there are plenty.

But CBS News has a responsibility to objective journalism and fairness, and to show some balance to the 'shock stories' like the one this past Sunday night.
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