Stem Cell Germany Safety Concerns
A couple of recent sad cases resulting from treatment at the XCell Center involved children treated for severe cerebral palsy, and epilepsy, through neuro-endoscopy procedures. The treatment led to complications and the subsequent death of one boy, with the other now in a worse condition than prior to treatment. A statement from the clinic’s website in October, 2010, admits that errors were made by the Dr. treating the boy, and that that physician has now been dismissed from the center. The center itself has been cleared of any wrongdoing in that case by the public prosecutor investigating the children’s treatment. XCell state that the complications were a result of the surgery, and not directly related to the use of stem cells. The clinic’s CEO Dr. Kleinbloesem emphasized that all medical procedures had risks and limitations and that, in most cases involving stem cell therapy, those being treated were seriously ill and had many complications.
Other concerns that have been highlighted regarding the clinic are more concerned with the apparent lack of follow-up care of the patients who travel from numerous countries to undergo stem cell treatment in Germany. The clinic has many testimonials on their website detailing patients’ success after treatment, but has been accused by some of failing to conduct any systematic research or after-care of patients, rather letting those who are happy with their treatment report to them (Kutter, 2010). The clinic itself claims a 2% complication rate from the hundred or so patients treated using brain surgery, and stresses that the stem cell therapy is an option only for those whose conditions have not been helped using conventional treatment methods (XCell, 2010).
The XCell clinic appears to want patients to believe that its treatments are licenced, however, it is only their extraction of stem cells which has been approved by the PEI (Paul Ehrlich institute). The treatment itself is not licenced, as yet, and is in fact not required to be licenced until 2012 as the European Medicines Agency has granted companies a transitional period to apply for approval of existing stem cell treatments; new treatments require immediate licencing prior to being able to be legally carried out according to the new guidelines. Some treatments are being considered special cases however, which may include those offered by XCell, and these are required to seek approval by the end of 2010, making it possible that XCell faces some difficulties in the coming months.
Next Read About: Conditions Treated in Germany Using Stem Cells
