Ethical Issues

Ethical issues, so far, primarily have dealt with the source of the cells, i.e., embryonic versus adult tissues. In view of the billion-dollar business of unapproved stem cell therapies by numerous clinics worldwide, it is essential to require ethical conduct in anti-aging and immortality research, and therapy. Making false claims of cures for certain diseases must be avoided. Direct consumer marketing, i.e., advertisement directly towards potential patients, requires ethical judgment. Similarly, stem cell tourism offered by clinics worldwide in areas lacking regular oversight needs to be critically evaluated. Any advertisement requires honesty, respect, and responsibility for marketers’ claims. The public knowledge of current stem cell therapy is mainly guided by advertisements rather than by scientific data.