The Controversy Around Stem Cell Treatment Centers

By Patrick Mitchell


Advances in medical science sometimes seem to be so rapid that it is hard to keep track of the latest breakthroughs. New instruments, medication, procedures and tools are made available all the time. Many diseases that were seen as a certain death sentences can now be treated very successfully. With no slack in the pace of research, one can just wonder what the next miracle will be. One such field is bone marrow transplants. Stem cell treatment centers offers many patients hope for treatment.

Bone marrow transplants have been available for a number of years. Thus far, however, they were only considered for patients with certain types of cancer, especially leukaemia patients. These patients routinely receive chemo therapy and in the process very large numbers of blood cells are destroyed. Bone marrow transplants are used to encourage the growth of new, hopefully healthy cells. Very few transplants are done because they are deemed to be dangerous.

It is important to note that these transplants do not cure any disease. At best, they can add a few years to the lives of patients. It is also important to keep in mind that bone marrow transplants are deemed to be extremely risky. Researchers nevertheless hope that transplants will indeed become a cure for many different medical conditions, including some types of cancer. Much more needs to be done first, however.

The main characteristic of these transplants are that it promotes the growth of new cells. Once this can be done successfully, diseases like Parkinson and Alzheimer will be conquered because the damaged brain cells will simply be replaced with healthy ones. Transplants will also be used to treat physical brain injuries and many different types of spine injury.

Heart Disease is one of the biggest killers on the planet. Millions of people suffer from some form of heart problem. This is why this field is another focus point for bone marrow transplant researchers. If damages heart muscles, valves and arteries can be repaired by growing new ones, then many millions of people will be able to gain a new lease on life.

Unfortunately, the whole issue of bone marrow transplants is at the centre of controversy. Critics say that these transplants are dangerous. Moreover, they point out that it is common practice to use the blood taken from the umbilical cords of unborn babies to perform these transplants. This poses an enormous moral dilemma. Women may even decide to become pregnant for the sole purpose of making money from their unborn babies.

Opponents also accuse researchers in this field of creating expectations that are simply not realistic. They say that it is a known fact that any truly practical use for bone marrow transplants is still many years ago. Major breakthroughs simply will not happen within the next few decades. Critics say researchers create expectations simply for the purpose of obtaining more and more funding for their work.

Bone marrow transplants may well become one of the biggest medical breakthroughs ever. If this happens, many millions of lives will be saved and many types of disease will be conquered. It is important to remember, however, that the road ahead is still long and that a lot of work will have to be done before the research will bear fruit.




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