Texas Board Approves Rules on Use of Stem Cells

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/14/us/new-rules-on-adult-stem-cells-approved-in-texas.html?_r=0



While this article focuses on the use of stem cells, the rules that were approved in Texas are not applicable to the use of embryonic stem cells which has been the root of heated debate for a good while. The article reports that in Texas it is not acceptable for doctors to perform a slew of stem cell procedures as long as they are research based and are approved by a institutional review board. This marks a very dramatic shift in views of the state. From my understanding, the patients opt for this treatment and are not charged for the use of the stem cell treatments as they are being done on a research basis. Naturally the mere topic of stem cell use is going to cause debate and uproar from people who deem themselves religious. As I interpreted it, there really is no form of true regulation on this new piece of legislature. It sounds like you can go into a research facility and say "I have this problem, give me stem cells to fix it." As long as there is approval from a medical review board you are set to go. The medical board that was set to review and approve or deny the new regulations were put into a tough spot as the rules had already been printed into the Texas register and a act of approval or denial was all that the board could do.

Normally this is something that I would be a large proponent of, as the use of stem cells, specifically embryonic stem cells has the ability to make almost all of the "incurable" diseases and conditions we know of things of the past. However, the way that Texas has set this up and the way that this article presented these new pieces of "Legislation" is really quite sketch to me. This may be a biased article, but the facts appear to be sound to me and it kind of makes me worry for people that opt to have these studies performed on them. There is no period of pretesting or waiting to see possible after effects or anything. I think that what Texas is doing with this is an attempted step in the right direction for the wide spread use of stem cells medicinally, but I fear that this is really going to blow up in their face sending thoughts of stem cell use to the trash can. There are no rules or regulations on it! Like what are you doing? Good intentions, horrible idea.