House seeks probe on stem-cell therapy link to solons’ deaths

Should there be a law on stem cell therapy? The House of Representatives (HOR) has no idea. And for the sake of finding answer, House leaders intend to consult with medical experts about the issues surrounding the procedure. Speaker Feliciano Sonny Belmonte Jr. admits lawmakers need an expert opinion before they take any legislative action on reports about the negative effects of the expensive treatment. At this point, we have absolutely no basis to say that it was wrong (or) it wasnt wrong (or) it should be regulated, it should not be regulated, Belmonte said. Belmonte issued the statement after the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) said it is looking into the recent deaths of three politicians, who died after receiving xenogenic treatment in Germany. PMA president Dr. Leo Olarte said his group is still trying to find out whether politicians died due to their illness or due to hypersensitive reaction from animal-based stem cell treatments they received. On Monday, Belmonte revealed that Camiguin Rep. Pedro Romualdo underwent stem cell treatment in Germany before he died in April due to pneumonia. Incoming Bohol Rep. Aris Aumentado also admitted his father, the late Bohol Rep. Erico Aumentado, had undergone similar treatment in September before he died last Christmas, also due to pneumonia. We are still awaiting the word of the experts and the medical experts, not political experts on how, if anything, is demanded from us, Belmonte said. Olarte, who is the spokesperson of Philippine Society for Stem Cell Medicine, cited initial information that the politicians received stem cell therapy that used sheeps. He reiterated that receiving animal-based stem cell is dangerous because it may trigger complications such as graft versus host reaction. The expert advised Filipinos and public officials to choose autologous adult stem cell treatment, which is derived from the patients own blood, bone marrow or fat. Last March, the Department of Health (DOH) has restricted hospitals and other facilities from using genetically-altered cells and tissues of human in carrying out stem-cell therapy and treatments in the country. Health secretary Enrique Ona added their department also prohibits the use of umbilical cord, fat-derived human stem cells, and live animal stem cells for the conduct of the procedure locally.

ONA released Administrative Order (AO) 2013-0012, which seeks to ensure the safety of people who want to undergo human stem cell and cell-based therapies.

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House seeks probe on stem-cell therapy link to solons' deaths