Should Clinical Trials With Stem Cells be banned?
Should Clinical Trials With Stem Cells be banned?
Introduction
Clinical trials define the research that is carried out to find about the new medical formulation work in people. Each research ends with an answer to certain scientific question. It tries to find out the better ways to prevent or treat a disease. Every clinical trial come with a set of protocol to conduct the experiment.
Before discussing the pros and cons, you should know what are stem cells?
It is a class of undifferentiated cells that are able to differentiate into specialized cell types, as required.
There are two sources for the stem cells:
1. Embryonic placental blood.
2. Blood in case of adults.
The stem cells are considered to be very powerful for their ability to differentiate into the type of cells they are required to be. Stem Cells have the ability to repair or replace any other tissue in the body.
This makes them capable of treating many life threatening diseases.
The debate regarding the ban of clinical trials with the stem cell came into limelight when the Drug Controller General of India ordered a Hospital in Pune) to stop the clinical trials with the stem cells.
What do you think? Should these clinical trials with stems cells be banned?
Yes, we can’t play with human lives
1. The clinical trial with the stem cells involve a lot of risk and hence, it is not at all safe.
2. At a few places, clinical trials are too expensive and the patients are charged with a high amount.
3. Most of the treatment comes along with a side effect. The treatment of stem cell may lead to the growth of tumor or cancer.
4. The clinical trials with the stem cells are being misused at many places and it also involves a lot of malpractices.
5. Another main reason to ban this trial is due to the failure of providing compensation to the families of the patients.
No, science has to advance
1. Clinical trial include an in depth study which bring out the pros and cons of the treatment. Hence, it will be useful for the upcoming generations.
2. As the clinical trial with the stem cells brings out a new or alternative solution, it will help to create a new and healthy India and world.
3. It is helpful in a situation when the supply of donated organs or tissues falls short. These trials can lead us to a breakthrough in this area saving many human lives.
4. With the advent of strict laws, clinical trial continues to be legal. And thus, there is no need to question about its safety.
Conclusion
Clinical trials should always follow a proper guideline in order the save the lives. Their purpose is to provide maximum alternative solution to cure any disease.
Carrying clinical trials without following a proper procedure or without adhering to a guideline can cause more harms than benefits. Hence it is the duty of every medial practitioner and scientist to ensure that they do not risk the lives of patients for their personal benefit.
Discussion
- RE: Should Clinical Trials With Stem Cells be banned? -Deepa Kaushik (12/25/14)
- Every invention should have a check to restrict its misuse. Every technological advancement leads to one or the other side-effects along with the benefits. Just because the stem cells trial also require utmost caution, we cannot deny the benefits that it could provide in the medical treatment. If we don’t boost-up the spirit of the researchers, we cannot develop in our medical studies. To invent something new, we do need to take risks.
Stem cells have the capacity to differentiate. In this present era where the diseases, especially the life-style disorders have spread its wings, we can visualize a huge number of patients with organ failure, but we don’t have healthy donors to help these people to resume their lives. The stem cells not only help in developing and replacing the organs, but they also help in the treatment of various disease conditions.
The cost factor is definitely involved in the study and treatment of the stem cells. But, the treatment should be offered to the patients who can afford the same. We do have many treatment line-up in our country that many of the citizens could not ideally afford. That simply doesn’t mean that we go ahead with banning all those treatment measures, as they do help others who can afford the same. Regarding the infrastructural involvement for the study, it is the duty of the government to help with the requirement to carry out the study that could help in developing the health status of the citizens.
We should go ahead with the study also with the restrictions in the trial measures in order to progress in the medical field and help our citizens with the ailments.
