# Stem Cell medical technology. Is this even possible? Scam? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 18, 2010, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stem-cell-medical-technology-is-this-even-possible-scam/536564 "2010-04-18T21:58:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![2012User](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/3ab097/32.png) [@2012User](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2012User)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stem-cell-medical-technology-is-this-even-possible-scam/536564/61 "2012-04-12T04:03:24Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > What precisely will this documented evidence consist of? Photos and videos have previously shown us that aliens destroyed Washington DC and Godzilla regularly lunches [del]at[/del]on Tokyo. What we would need is an independent medical report on your condition before and after treatment, for a start. Will you provide this? I already have the before treatment medical reports from doctors and medical institutions on two continents and will provide the after reports if things change. I have nothing to prove or to hide - I am only offering to share my experience and back it up with whatever it takes should it prove successful or a failure. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stem-cell-medical-technology-is-this-even-possible-scam/536564/62 "2012-04-12T04:04:28Z")
> [@2012User](#): > > If it is a scam it deserves to be exposed… It also deserves to be validated if it is not a scam. > > Not one of the writers has said that they have tried the treatment and it did not work. One of the writers has said that they tried it and it worked. > I am about to start and offering to let you know if it works or not. > > I will post my experience regardless of what you think. Will you post independent medical examinations before and after the treatments? edited to add: it does us no good for you to see the “before” reports and us to see the “after” reports-for all we know you are already healthy. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stem-cell-medical-technology-is-this-even-possible-scam/536564/63 "2012-04-12T04:07:32Z")
> [@2012User](#): > > If it is a scam it deserves to be exposed… It also deserves to be validated if it is not a scam. Your posting about your experience on a message board is not validating it, though. ---
**Author:** ![2012User](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/3ab097/32.png) [@2012User](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2012User)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stem-cell-medical-technology-is-this-even-possible-scam/536564/64 "2012-04-12T04:07:57Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Will you post independent medical examinations before and after the treatments? See my response above this, I also have video and photos over the last 5 years to add to the timeline. You will see the age difference over the years. ---
**Author:** ![2012User](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/3ab097/32.png) [@2012User](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2012User)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stem-cell-medical-technology-is-this-even-possible-scam/536564/65 "2012-04-12T04:10:30Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Will you post independent medical examinations before and after the treatments? > > edited to add: it does us no good for you to see the “before” reports and us to see the “after” reports-for all we know you are already healthy. When the time comes I will post it - should I have the before reports notarized for you? ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stem-cell-medical-technology-is-this-even-possible-scam/536564/66 "2012-04-12T04:13:32Z")
This is not a scientific journal. Any consensus about the efficacy of a medical treatment made here is, at best, an opinion. Only a few regular contributors are remotely qualified to judge someone’s health state and they would balk at saying anything definite from viewing photos and videos. Posting stuff here will not prove the legitimacy of the treatment but it is behavior consistent with shysters attempting to hoodwink others. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stem-cell-medical-technology-is-this-even-possible-scam/536564/67 "2012-04-12T04:14:12Z")
> [@2012User](#): > > See my response above this, I also have video and photos over the last 5 years to add to the timeline. You will see the age difference over the years. None of that matters worth a damn. We don’t need a flood of information-we need the _pertinent_ information. An independent medical examination, performed fairly recently so that any healing couldn’t have happened in the meantime, showing exactly what is wrong with you, followed by an independent medical examination performed as soon as possible after the treatment to show what has been healed. We don’t need your videos, and we have no way of knowing the source of any photos you may send us. ---
**Author:** ![2012User](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/3ab097/32.png) [@2012User](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2012User)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stem-cell-medical-technology-is-this-even-possible-scam/536564/68 "2012-04-12T04:23:44Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > This is not a scientific journal. Any consensus about the efficacy of a medical treatment made here is, at best, an opinion. Only a few regular contributors are remotely qualified to judge someone’s health state and they would balk at saying anything definite from viewing photos and videos. Posting stuff here will not prove the legitimacy of the treatment but it is behavior consistent with shysters attempting to hoodwink others. I like your choice of words..“is at best, an opinion”, just as the rest of the posters here - it is just an opinion that it is a scam. As you rightly state later on “posting stuff…is behavior consistent with shysters attempting to hoodwink others” - which is exactly what you are doing. ---
**Author:** ![2012User](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/3ab097/32.png) [@2012User](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2012User)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stem-cell-medical-technology-is-this-even-possible-scam/536564/69 "2012-04-12T04:26:53Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > None of that matters worth a damn. We don’t need a flood of information-we need the _pertinent_ information. An independent medical examination, performed fairly recently so that any healing couldn’t have happened in the meantime, showing exactly what is wrong with you, followed by an independent medical examination performed as soon as possible after the treatment to show what has been healed. We don’t need your videos, and we have no way of knowing the source of any photos you may send us. Medical examination performed as soon as possible after? It is not an instant miracle cure, if that is what you are hoping for then no wonder you believe it is a scam. Stem Cell takes time to perform and get the job done. Come on i though you guys were better than that. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stem-cell-medical-technology-is-this-even-possible-scam/536564/70 "2012-04-12T04:28:42Z")
Do you understand that even if your disease goes away this is not proof that this “procedure” works? I can give a thousand children with autism 8 oz of apple juice every day and there will likely be at least one whose symptoms improve or even disappear. Is this proof that apple juice cures autism? I hope that whatever ails you improves but that in no way constitutes proof that the procedure works. Anecdotal evidence != data. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stem-cell-medical-technology-is-this-even-possible-scam/536564/71 "2012-04-12T04:33:46Z")
> [@2012User](#): > > I like your choice of words..“is at best, an opinion”, just as the rest of the posters here - it is just an opinion that it is a scam. No. When the claims is, “This treatment cures illness X,” the null hypothesis says “This treatment has no effect on illness X.” If no evidence is brought forth that disproves the null hypothesis then the treatment can be assumed a scam as we can’t reject the null hypothesis. > [@](#): > > As you rightly state later on “posting stuff…is behavior consistent with shysters attempting to hoodwink others” - which is exactly what you are doing. Have a failstamp. ---
**Author:** ![2012User](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/3ab097/32.png) [@2012User](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2012User)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stem-cell-medical-technology-is-this-even-possible-scam/536564/72 "2012-04-12T04:45:39Z")
> [@psychobunny](#): > > Do you understand that even if your disease goes away this is not proof that this “procedure” works? I can give a thousand children with autism 8 oz of apple juice every day and there will likely be at least one whose symptoms improve or even disappear. Is this proof that apple juice cures autism? I hope that whatever ails you improves but that in no way constitutes proof that the procedure works. Anecdotal evidence != data. Thanks to you all… now I know that nothing posted on this thread has any credibility at all. Just a bunch of bashers. I never said that I had autism. The thread started out questioning the stem cell treatment procedure. One person spoke about autism, another about cancer. I never said what my problem was - SCI, TBI, MS, Parkinsons, Cancer, whatever. You are not interested in finding out anything so I will find a site that actually wants to know or learn something about the experience. perhaps just post it in YouTube for those who want to know. Good luck in life and I hope you never find yourself in a position of severe illness/condition with a hope of a cure only to have some hater try to crush you for no valid reason. I will pray for you all. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stem-cell-medical-technology-is-this-even-possible-scam/536564/73 "2012-04-12T04:54:26Z")
> [@2012User](#): > > Thanks to you all… now I know that nothing posted on this thread has any credibility at all. Just a bunch of bashers. I never said that I had autism. The thread started out questioning the stem cell treatment procedure. One person spoke about autism, another about cancer. I never said what my problem was - SCI, TBI, MS, Parkinsons, Cancer, whatever. > > You are not interested in finding out anything so I will find a site that actually wants to know or learn something about the experience. perhaps just post it in YouTube for those who want to know. > > Good luck in life and I hope you never find yourself in a position of severe illness/condition with a hope of a cure only to have some hater try to crush you for no valid reason. > > I will pray for you all. No thank you-go prey on someone else. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stem-cell-medical-technology-is-this-even-possible-scam/536564/74 "2012-04-12T05:57:40Z")
I never said you had autism-I used it as an example. My mind is open to actual scientific proof. Just show me evidence in the form of double-blind studies published in a respected peer-reviewed journal and I will be the first to tout your therapy. However, if all you give me is one person with anecdotal evidence and I will still ask for scientific proof. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stem-cell-medical-technology-is-this-even-possible-scam/536564/75 "2012-04-12T12:47:00Z")
I have been drinking a certain herbal extraction every day for five years now. I can provide sworn statements that my lungs are clear of tuberculosis at this time, and in fact do not show any of the scarring associated with tuberculosis. I also have not had a seizure in that time. If that doesn’t prove it works, then I don’t know what does. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stem-cell-medical-technology-is-this-even-possible-scam/536564/76 "2012-04-12T14:06:55Z")
> [@2012User](#): > > Thanks to you all… now I know that nothing posted on this thread has any credibility at all. I knew that several posts back. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stem-cell-medical-technology-is-this-even-possible-scam/536564/77 "2012-04-12T14:18:41Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Multiple objective double-blind medical trials that show a statistically significant link between the remission of the illness and the treatment course… Which should be easily available in peer reviewed scientific journals. When will we get the cites? (Repeating another poster’s admonition against holding your breath.) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stem-cell-medical-technology-is-this-even-possible-scam/536564/78 "2012-04-12T14:28:16Z")
Please tone down the comments about shills and bashers. If this thread is going to stay open, it needs to be a discussion of the issue. That said, **2012User** , I don’t think this board is the appropriate place for a years-long chronicle of your treatment. You can’t post photo and videos here anyway. This sounds like a better subject for a blog, so I recommend you start one of those and just discuss the issue and your experiences here in a general way. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stem-cell-medical-technology-is-this-even-possible-scam/536564/79 "2012-04-12T15:01:02Z")
**2012User** , do you know of any double-blind studies that support the therapy you intend to participate in? What is the overall cost of the therapy? What exactly are you being treated for? ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stem-cell-medical-technology-is-this-even-possible-scam/536564/80 "2012-04-12T15:29:19Z")
**2012user** Just grab any of the thousands of free webpages out there, scan your documents in and we’ll perhaps believe that you are legitimate. There is no need to wait for some special time or after treatment etc. Just post the stuff you have NOW and chronicle your experience. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stem-cell-medical-technology-is-this-even-possible-scam/536564.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stem-cell-medical-technology-is-this-even-possible-scam/536564.md?page=5)