TY - JOUR AU - Matthews, Kirstin R. W. AU - Iltis, Ana S. PY - 2015 DA - 2015/11/04 TI - Unproven stem cell–based interventions and achieving a compromise policy among the multiple stakeholders JO - BMC Medical Ethics SP - 75 VL - 16 IS - 1 AB - In 2004, patient advocate groups were major players in helping pass and implement significant public policy and funding initiatives in stem cells and regenerative medicine. In the following years, advocates were also actively engaged in Washington DC, encouraging policy makers to broaden embryonic stem cell research funding, which was ultimately passed after President Barack Obama came into office. Many advocates did this because they were told stem cell research would lead to cures. After waiting more than 10 years, many of these same patients are now approaching clinics around the world offering experimental stem cell-based interventions instead of waiting for scientists in the US to complete clinical trials. How did the same groups who were once (and often still are) the strongest supporters of stem cell research become stem cell tourists? And how can scientists, clinicians, and regulators work to bring stem cell patients back home to the US and into the clinical trial process? SN - 1472-6939 UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-015-0069-x DO - 10.1186/s12910-015-0069-x ID - Matthews2015 ER -