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What to Ask a Stem Cell Clinic
Listed below are a series of questions, taken from the ISSCR Patient
Handbook, to ask a clinic from which you are considering receiving a
stem cell treatment. You have the right to know as much information as
possible about the procedure, the science that supports it, the costs,
the expected outcome and any possible risks. The doctors involved should
know a lot about your disease or condition, other treatment options, and
the evidence that the treatment they are offering will be safe and that
it will work.
The questions and answers are best discussed with a trusted physician
familiar with your condition who can help you understand the treatment
and your choices. The ISSCR encourages patients and their families to
seek medical advice independent of the provider to help assess whether
the treatment and outcome claims offered are reasonable.
The treatment
- Is the treatment routine for this specific disease or condition?
- Is the treatment part of a formal clinical trial?
- What are the alternative treatment options for my disease or condition?
- If I have this treatment, could it affect whether I get into another clinical trial or am I able to have another treatment?
- What are the possible benefits I can expect? How will this be measured and how long will this take?
- What other medications or special care might I need?
- How is this stem cell procedure done:
- What is the source of the stem cells?
- How are the stem cells identified, isolated and grown?
- Are the cells differentiated into specialized cells before therapy?
- How are the cells delivered to the right part of the body?
- If the cells are not my own, how will my immune system be prevented from reacting to the transplanted cells?
Scientific evidence and oversight
- What is the scientific evidence that this new procedure could work for my disease or condition? Where is this published?
- Have there been (earlier) clinical trials? What was learned from these trials?
- Is there independent oversight of the treatment plan, for example, an Institutional Review Board? Can you provide me with several names of scientists and clinicians who can give me independent advice?
- Is there any independent oversight or accreditation of the clinic where the treatment will be done and the facility where the cells are processed?
- Is there approval from national or regional regulatory agency, such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the European Medicines Agency (EMA), for this treatment of this specific disease?
Safety and emergencies
- What are the risks of the procedure itself, and the possible side effects both immediate and long-term?
- Are there any other risks to me in joining in the study?
- What will be done if an adverse reaction (bad side-effect) develops? Who is the person to contact in an emergency or research-related injury? Who will provide emergency medical care?
- Is the clinic adequately prepared to handle emergencies such as a serious allergic reaction?
- What follow-up treatment will be received, and for how long? What will I need to do?
- Who is the doctor in charge of the treatment? What specialized training does this doctor have? How well trained are the other doctors and the technical support staff?
Patient rights
- What are my rights as a participant—for example confidentiality, my right to be informed of any new information that might come up, my right to withdraw from the treatment process?
- What compensation am I entitled to if I am injured as a result of taking part in this study?
Cost
- What are the costs of the treatment? What does this include? What other costs will I incur?
- What would be the costs of emergency treatment if something goes wrong? Who would provide this and pay for this? Before traveling or agreeing to treatment, find out what costs your travel insurance, health insurance provider or national program will cover, in what circumstances and in what countries.