MikeLigalig.com

By Sheila Crisostomo (The Philippine Star) | Updated June 25, 2013 - 12:00am

 
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Medical Association (PMA) is investigating reports that three politicians died one year after undergoing stem cell treatment in Germany.

Citing reports from the media, PMA president Leo Olarte said the politicians came from Mindanao. One of them died in April, while another passed away last month.

The PMA has not yet established the identities of the three politicians but it is coordinating with its chapters in Mindanao.

Olarte said that it should be established if the politicians’ deaths were caused by the stem cell treatment or because of their lingering illnesses: cancer of the liver and heart and lung ailments.

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=73563.0

He warned that “xenogenic” stem cells, or those taken from animals, and “allogenic” stem cells, or those derived from other humans and not the patient himself, are not allowed in the country.

“Any other source outside the patient’s own body can result to death due to severe complications specifically graft versus host reaction, immediate or delayed hypersensitivity reaction and severe infections,” he said.

“Stem cells are our own natural healers or repair cells. Our immune system is our body’s own defense system against anything that can harm us (infections, etc). The immune system is therefore tasked to recognize our very own cells or tissues and thus not attack it,” he added.

The PMA is also looking into reports that the procedure is being done by foreign doctors in some five-star hotels in Metro Manila.

Olarte cautioned against unscrupulous individuals who take advantage of the growing popularity of stem cell therapy.

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=73563.0