Abstract

Bioethical, legal, and professional discussions concerning human stem cell science have moved away from the contentious, and possibly irreconcilable, debates about human embryos to other sources of pluripotent stem cells. While there is an array of ethical and legal issues associated with all types of pluripotent stem cells, in recent years complex issues have arisen with regard to the premature use of somatic or "adult" stem cells. Of particular concern is the global emergence of an industry selling products and services marketed as stem cells direct to the consumer, typically over the internet, for a range of serious medical conditions that lack credible evidence of safety and efficacy (Sipp et...