Stem Cell Therapies Argumentative Essay

Stem cell therapies, while in their early development stages, hold significant promise for transformative and potentially curative treatment. Recent advances in knowledge, including research taking place at Creighton University, have the potential to revolutionize tendon repair strategy thus improving a patient’s recovery time and overall prognosis. Stem cell therapies have the potential to revolutionize medicine. Stem cell therapy also has the potential to provide alternative treatments and potentially cures for disease and conditions such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and diabetes among others. While there may be some risks to genetically engineered tissue, limiting a patient’s access to these treatments is wrong and I believe that the

However, a curious aspect of the government-doctor relationship can be found in the recently approved ‘right-to-try’ bill. This bill, enacted in August of 2017, gives doctors the unanimous consent to perform experimental treatments on patients that have been labeled as terminally ill without the oversight of the FDA. I found this bill to be incredibly controversial. In cases where the patient is deathly ill, the patient can control the treatment he receives. However, in cases where the patient is suffering a lesser ailment, the control resides under restrictions of the FDA. In other words, under the ‘right-to-try’ bill, the government places trust in the doctor and the patient to devise a treatment plan that is suitable for the ailment at hand. However, in less severe circumstances, the government does not feel that the patient and doctor can successfully construct a treatment plan without the intervention of the

This practice is the use of a FDA approved drug or device for a purpose that the FDA has not approved. In response to this practice, the FDA has stated, “Good medical practice and the best interests of the patient require that physicians use legally available drugs, biologics and devices according to their best knowledge and judgement. If physicians use a product for an indication not in the approved labeling, they have the responsibility to be well informed about the product, to base its use on firm scientific rationale and on sound medical evidence, and to maintain records of the product's use and effects.” I would like to draw the question that although a drug may be approved for a specific use, if it is not used for its designed usage, should it still be classified as an “approved” drug? I believe that under this practice, the physician is conducting an experimental trial based on his own judgement. Thus, the usage of this drug in this circumstance should no longer be considered “approved.” Furthermore, if using what I consider an unapproved drug is, “good medical practice and in the best interests of the patient,” what is the role of the FDA in