Court Allows Stem Cell Therapy for Two Autistic Kids

Court Allows Stem Cell Therapy for Two Autistic Kids

Subject: Science and technology

Section: Biotechnology Technology

Context:

• The Delhi High Court recently granted permission for two children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to undergo stem cell therapy, overturning a recommendation by the Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) of the National Medical Commission (NMC) against such treatment.
• The EMRB recommendation had deemed the use, promotion, and advertisement of stem cell treatment for ASD as professional misconduct.

What are Stem Cells?

• Stem Cells: Stem cells are undifferentiated cells capable of developing into various specialized cell types. They can be broadly categorized into pluripotent stem cells and adult stem cells.
  • Pluripotent Stem Cells: These are stem cells that have the potential to differentiate into all cell types in the adult body. They are naturally found in embryos.
  • Adult Stem Cells: These are tissue or organ-specific stem cells that can regenerate to form only the cell types specific to the organ or tissue from which they are derived.
• Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs): iPSCs are mature human adult cells that have been reprogrammed to exhibit characteristics similar to embryonic stem cells, making them pluripotent.

Medical Applications of Stem Cells

• Stem cell treatments fall under the umbrella of regenerative medicine, leveraging the regenerative properties of stem cells.
• Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has been used for over 90 years to treat conditions like leukemia and lymphoma.
• Stem cell-based therapies are already used to treat patients, including bone marrow transplants for leukaemia, skin grafts for severe burns, and more recently corneal grafts for loss of sight due to ocular burns or infection. More stem cell therapies will be developed; however, some scientists and clinicians expect it will take at least 20 years before stem cell treatments become widely available.
• Increase understanding of how diseases occur. By watching stem cells mature into cells in bones, heart muscle, nerves, and other organs and tissue, researchers may better understand how diseases and conditions develop.
• Test new drugs for safety and effectiveness. Before using investigational drugs in people, researchers can use some types of stem cells to test the drugs for safety and quality. This type of testing will most likely first have a direct impact on drug development for cardiac toxicity testing.

Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

• ASD is a neurological and developmental disorder affecting communication, social interaction, learning, and behavior.
• There is no known cure for ASD; treatment focuses on symptom management and improving functionality.
• Conventional therapies include social skills training, behavior therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and medication.

Potential for Stem Cell Treatment in ASD

• Some experts suggest that stem cell therapy may hold promise for ASD due to its potential to regulate the immune system and enhance neural connectivity.
• However, current clinical trials have yielded mixed results, and the therapy is still in the experimental stage.
• Concerns include adverse reactions, debilitating side effects, limited long-term understanding, and the absence of established protocols.

EMRB’s Recommendations and Concerns

• EMRB recommended against stem cell therapy for ASD due to the lack of conclusive evidence.
• The board highlighted the risks associated with the treatment, including false hope from “predatory marketing”.
• The court’s decision doesn’t pass judgment on the overall validity of stem cell therapy for ASD but allows the ongoing treatment to continue.
• The NMC is authorized to take a final view on the recommendation according to the NMC Act.

National Medical Commission (NMC):

• Established through the National Medical Commission Act, 2019.
• It replaced the Medical Council of India.
• The NMC is responsible for regulating medical education and practice in India.
• Aims:
  1. Improve medical education access and quality
  2. Ensure ample high-quality medical professionals
  3. Promote equitable healthcare
  4. Encourage research adoption
  5. Assess institutions transparently.
  6. Maintain the medical register
  7. Enforce ethical standards
  8. Establish effective grievance redressal