California broke new ground with our stem cell law that went into effect on January 1. It requires stem cell clinic firms to post notices informing patients of important information such as the fact that their offerings are non-FDA approved.
At this point, 4+ months into the enforcement period, I’m not sure if anyone has looked into compliance. Anyone know? If you run a stem cell clinic, have you posted notices? Is you are a patient in California who has been to such a clinic, have you seen a notice? According to the new law, the California state medical board in a broader sense is supposed to keep tabs on the situation.
What’s going on in other states?
A similar bill to our California one popped up a few months back in Washington state and stem cell scientists lobbied for it. I’m happy to report that just over a month ago, it became law so the growing number of clinics in that state need to start doing a better job educating patients as well. See picture above from the moment captured in time.
Florida is another hotbed for stem cell clinics with all kinds of things happening there ranging from patient lawsuits to federal lawsuits seeking permanent injunctions. Republican legislators there sponsored a bill that was even more assertive in oversight of clinics than that of California or Washington. Sadly, the bill died in committee or something like that before it even got voted on (HT to commenter “Bill Jones”). I’m not sure of any back story there on why.
Of course, there’s also that Texas stem cell clinic law too that to me seemed more pro-clinic, but my impression is that it hasn’t really practically speaking come into effect.
Anyone know of other states where stem cell clinic-related legislation is being discussed or if there’s an actual bill elsewhere?
my husband is currently considering stem cell therapy for back pain following spinal fusion 2 years ago. Have seen nothing about per cent of results involving nerve damage, scar tissue, or muscle damage from 3 procedures over past 10-12 years. Since stem cell therapy appears to still be experimental, not FDA approved, extremely costly, and not positively guaranteed, plus possibly dangerous, I am hesitant to encourage him to proceed
I think the Florida law failed because it included language that clinics had to follow FDA regulations. That basically makes the law moot and it could force the state to spend money enforcing FDA regulations. Opponents of the Texas law tried poison it as well by adding similar language but that language got removed from the final draft, which is probably why the law passed. The Texas law cannot be implemented until the Texas State Medical Board and Health and Human Services Department publish the regulations/guidelines (not sure the legal term) that must accompany the new law. That process is going on now and there are many cooks in that kitchen as one might imagine.