Unlicensed stem cell clinics are still operating with untrained physicians

Despite federal crackdowns on unlicensed stem cell clinics, many such clinics in California, Texas, and Florida are continuing to operate and market unapproved therapies, a new study finds. Nearly two-thirds of medical professionals at such clinics are physicians, although nearly half the clinics did not have a physician who was formally trained in the area the clinic was claiming to treat. This was especially true for non-orthopedic specialties, where only 19% of companies had a physician trained in the appropriate specialty. 

At the same time, a Florida district court yesterday issued a permanent injunction against U.S. Stem Cell and U.S. Stem Cell Clinic, which were involved in a lawsuit brought by the federal government after three women lost their vision following treatment at U.S. Stem Cell.