Assignment:
Hospitals, clinics, and even private doctor's offices and laboratories now offer stem cell treatments, making claims about what stem cells can do. Our understanding of the science and the discoveries so far does not support some of these claims. Currently, the only stem cell therapy that has strong support for its effectiveness is the therapy referred to as bone marrow transplant, which is commonly done for lymphoma, leukemia, and other blood cancers. The material studied in this activity should clarify some of the misinformation that is widely circulated. You will apply what you have learned so far and be a critical consumer of information.
First:
Review these assigned readings; they will serve as your scientific sources of accurate information:
Understanding Stem Cells [PDF] from the National Academies.
Nine Things to Know About Stem Cell Treatments
How Science Becomes Medicine
Fighting aging using stem cell therapy
Stem cells in Texas: Cowboy culture
Goldman, B. (2016) White coat, black art: Stem cell hype and risk
Kamenova, K., & Caulfield, T. (2015) Stem cell hype: Media portrayal of therapy translation
Next:
Use a standard Google search for this phrase: "stem cell therapy." Do not go to Google Scholar. Select one of the websites, blogs, or other locations that offer stem cell therapies.
Read the materials provided on your selected site and find out who the authors and sponsors of the site .
You are going to prepare a critique of the site you located and compare it to the scientific information available on this therapy.
Give the full title of the website, web blog, or other site that you selected, along with the link.
Describe the therapy that is being offered and what conditions it is designed to treat.
Who are the authors and sponsors of the site you selected?
Compare the claims about the therapy offered to what is said in the assigned readings about this type of therapy. You may have to use our library, as well, to determine what scientists and researchers have to say about the use of stem cells to treat this condition.
Would you say that the therapy you found is a well-established, proven technique for humans, or more of an experimental, unproven approach?
What about the type of language discussed in the Goldman article? Is the therapy you found using sensationalist claims and terminology that are not supported by the scientific research?
Would you recommend that a patient with this condition go ahead and participate in this treatment? Why or why not?
You are also encouraged to do your own research through our library on the topic. Do not forget to include in-text citations and complete APA style references for all sources.