New York State Attorney General Letitia James has sued a Manhattan stem cell clinic for allegedly scamming patients into believing the clinic could cure them of conditions such as autoimmune disease, cardiac/pulmonary disease, and orthopedic diseases.
According to the lawsuit, Park Avenue Stem Cell and its managing doctor, Joel B. Singer, M.D., falsely advertised that its treatments could “improve” or “treat” conditions such as urological disease, erectile dysfunction, neurology disease, cardiac/pulmonary disease, autoimmune conditions and orthopedic conditions.
The complaint alleges that the clinic misrepresented that its procedures were FDA-approved, that its patients were participating in an established research study, and that its procedures had been endorsed by numerous scientific and medical organizations. Some patients were told that multiple treatments were necessary.
In the United States, stem cell treatments are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Currently, the FDA has only approved one or two stem cell treatments and those are for very specific and complex medical conditions. Under the 361 Human Cell and Tissue rules, the FDA is monitoring a large number of human derived cord-blood or amniotic tissue products and just recently sent out 20 warning letters to so-called “stem cell” processors.
Park Avenue Stem Cell used stem cells from patients’ own adipose (fat) tissue and used it to treat a number of conditions that have not been approved by the FDA.
Park Avenue Stem Cell was previously affiliated with the Cell Surgical Network, a California corporation that was sued by the FDA for administering stem cell products that were not approved and misbranded or adulterated. The FDA is currently seeking a permanent injunction against Cell Surgical Network, its main doctors, and a related entity.
Attorney General James released a statement saying, “Misleading vulnerable consumers who are desperate to find a treatment for serious and painful medical conditions is unacceptable, unlawful, and immoral…. We will continue to investigate these types of clinics that shamelessly add to the suffering of these consumers by charging them thousands of dollars for treatments that they know are unproven.”
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I would ask if the State AG’s office is filing suit against ALL of the clinics in the State of New York that are offering the same services as this Park Avenue Stem Cell? I have seen many different medical practices that offer stem cell treatment that they claim to arrest the aging process or clear wrinkles or just to make one feel more energetic and healthy, yet I see no stories in the NY Times regarding the AG going after their practices as well. Since when can the law pick and choose which accused offenders to target? Why are there hundreds of practices that have not even received a letter from the State yet this ONE doctor is being targeted? How is this JUST how is this JUSTICE?
You are SOOO TRUE !
THIS AG IS NOT HONESTY AG .
Robert
Your comments are very valid and point out some of irregularities in our justice system. As you stated there are many clinics in the New York area advertising the same thing. In addition large institutions such as Mt. Sinai, Weill Cornell and the Mayo Clinic are promoting similar therapies. There should be equal justice under the law but there isn’t.