I had expected that there would be criminal charges related to stem cell clinics this year, but admittedly I didn’t see it coming in Utah. This was one of my 25 stem cell predictions for 2025.
The stem cell clinic world has so much that is problematic. Where does something cross the line from perhaps being technically non-compliant with FDA rules to potentially being criminal?
Let’s take a look at the Utah felony charges and allegations.
Felony charges on stem cell clinic in Utah
Here’s the news from a local TV station website: 3 charged with performing unlicensed stem cell operations in Draper, KSL.
From the article:
“Dr. Paul William Winterton, 51, of Cottonwood Heights; Randall Matthew Relyea, 58, of Lindon; and Jenny Astrid Fraizer, 46, of Lindon — Relyea’s wife — were each charged Monday in 3rd District Court with engaging in a pattern of unlawful activity and communications fraud, second-degree felonies; and obstruction of justice, a third-degree felony…Winterton was also charged with unlawful practice of osteopathic medicine and three counts of unlawful and unprofessional conduct. Relyea was charged with four counts of unlawful practice of osteopathic medicine. Frazier was charged with unlawful practice of osteopathic medicine and two counts of unlawful and unprofessional conduct. All the charges are third-degree felonies.”
How many customers were harmed here at Precision Pointe Regenerative Health? The charges don’t seem to entirely, specifically relate to the unproven stem cells, but many things that happened in orbit around that. Across the U.S., supposed stem cells are often just a vehicle to try to make quick money from vulnerable people.
Note that these people could ultimately be found not guilty so we’ll have to carefully follow the case. The charges are very concerning though.
Unrelated to this case but in the same state, for several years, Utah perinatal supplier firms ran into issues with the FDA.
Some remarkable elements to the story
If you read the article, there are also some unusual elements to this overall case. For example, at least one alleged bone marrow procedure was done with no anesthetic. There were reportedly undercover agents visiting clinics, which is striking. If you are a stem cell clinic operating at the fringes you might have to be more worried about state and local officials than the FDA these days.
Another interesting twist here is that there’s a relatively new Utah stem cell law that allows for use of some specific kinds of non-FDA-approved stem cell injections.
More broadly, I’m also curious to see if Florida officials, where there’s a new stem cell law, still go after some clinics and their operators there.
I’m going to guess this is a “using patient testimonials” and marketing a product that hasn’t been approved by the FDA. Lazy doctors taking short cuts
Perhaps and also charges of unlawful practice of osteopathic medicine, etc. The details are short so far about the stem cells and marketing.
Buried the lede. Doctor practicing without fake licenses nothing to do with regen.
@L, I think there’s more on the regen side here too, but that info hasn’t come out in the news yet. If you go to the websites of people charged, you can see the regenerative marketing, etc.
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