大象传媒

I know its a worthy story but recycling a radio 4 story from months ago and claiming it as exclusive isn't great. I know it is the silly season but you must be able to find your own stuff to report on. (Factual
The Stem Cell Swindle
Tuesday 16 May 2006 20:00-20:40 (Radio 4 FM)

Repeated: Sunday 21 May 2006 17:00-17:40 (Radio 4 FM)
Award-winning medical journalist Matthew Hill investigates the people and the companies offering stem cell treatment. He hears from patients who have risked thousands of pounds on the slim chance that stem cells will cure them. Matthew also asks how companies are able to offer this untested and costly treatment in Britain.)

Very well investigated, and put together. Shame for the people conned. Glad you investigated this.

My brother suffers from ataxia telangiectasia and was told he could benefit from stem cells. My mother took him to London to meet with a Dr and he agreed to treat him in Rotterdam. When our GP emailed the Dr to clarify some points, he did not respond and we haven't heard from him since! Thank you for the programme, but its shocking that the authorities let these people operate in the open.

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Please could you send me more information about tonights programme on stem cell therapy, I only managed to catch the end statment from Steve Van Rooyens lawyer stating that no one had suffered from any side effects. My brother had the treatment in May and has had no benefit whatsoever, however the side effects he has suffered are pretty severe. Since having the treatment he has been suffering with 'high temperatures' with no known reason as to why. All avenues have been investigated as to the cause of the temperature but nothing has been found. There are no infections present, and all of his blood levels are normal within his own range. The cause is therefore likely to be whatever was injected in to him by ACT at the Rotterdam clinic.
There is a lot more information that I could give you including details of people that ACT gave me as contacts to speak to who had great benefits with the treatment, there was in particular a lady in South Africa who hailed the treatment a miracle. I now wonder if she was genuine or not because of Steve Van Rooyens links with south africa.
I would appreciate it if you could keep me posted with any information that you may have on this. I would be more than happy to provide any information with regard to this should you need it.

Tonight's UK television exclusive on sales of false stem cell treatments and the Dutch connection in the triangle-treatment of British patients was commendable. Coming from the British Isles, living in the Netherlands I found this segment of tonight鈥檚 show as the harbinger of the end of the cucumber season, as it is fondly known here, throughout the Lowlands.

Being recently diagnosed with MS earlier this summer and still reeling from having the in's and out's of the road ahead explained by a plethora of medical professionals, I am very grateful to the 大象传媒 Newsnight team for covering this story with sufficient visual-media material required to fathom the international triangle of paperwork and allegations of executive fraud that lies behind the provision of wonder medical cures. This, despite the imperfect pronunciation(s) of Dutch [and was there also Afrikaans?] names and surnames.
Thanks 大象传媒 Newsnight.

I am not a conspiracy theorist nor a neuroscientist and i am sure that George Bushs' stance on stem cell research has nothing to do with the FBIs' fervent interest in Mr. Van Rooyen and this relatively new area of medicine.
I have a friend who suffers from chronic MS and he was due to come to Holland on the 7 September for treatment, if he heard this report i am sure he, his wife and children will be devastated.
Hope is a very sweet spring to drink from but easily soured.
Great report- shattered dreams!

I wonder which part of 'not for use in humans' is it that ACT doesn't understand?
Surely it is splitting hairs to comment that they are not using anything which is purely for animal usage?
Having heard a couple of eminent doctors speak on this subject recently, it always surprises me that items like this do not draw more attention to the point that, not only is there a lack of any real scientific evidence that SCT will work, initial lab results indicate a possibility of malignancy in stem cell production.
Whilst appreciating other comments that this may not be the exclusive report suggested, I am glad that reputable journalists continue to revamp and re-issue these warnings.

Thank you so much for highlighting the false treatment of stem cells by "ACT" in Rotterdam. My family and I have been in touch with ACT since the beginning of the year. My brother was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in November last year(05). Whilst we new there wasn't a cure for this horrible disease, this devastating news forced us to go down the road of finding any possible treatment which would give my brother a better quality of life and perhaps keep the disease at bay for sometime. This road led us to "ACT". Act promised us that they would treat my brother for 19,500 euro (with possible discount) and assured us that they could improve his condition by at least 60%. Since this time we have been fundraising and thanks to friends, colleagues and the people here in Derry City, Northern Ireland we have met our target. Act told us by Email that my brother would receive treatment in mid-September, howevever, this did not happen and when I finally got through to them via Email (copies of which I have on my computer)they told us that due to a shortage of doctor's holding the license to carry out this procedure, it would now be December before they could treat him. They also told us that they hoped to open clinics closer to home which would involve less travelling. We tried phoning the clinic on numerous occasions, but the lines were dead each time. Again, on behalf of my family, I would like to thank you for exposing "ACT" as nothing more than a company who play with peoples emotions and hopes. If you require copies of my Emails to and from the clinic, please do not hesitate to contact me.

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As a persom who has progressive MS, I would like to thank the 大象传媒 for this investigation because I've followed the Stem Cell debate right from the start and have always been suspicious of ACT/Biomark.
Those suspicions seem now to be well founded.
Thank you!

I was also interested in stem cell therapy for emphasema. I contacted ACT based in Switerland and was due to go to Cork, Ireland in September this year. But I could not contact anyone who had had this therapy, therefore I was reluctant to go ahead and told the man who phoned up that I would have to have some hard evidence before I would continue. I have not heard anything for 3 months which seems disturbing. I was wary. I was pleased you uncovered this scam and very pleased that I hesitated. Many thanks.

We have just returned from the PMC clinic in Rotterdam (and Aqua Tillis Treatment Centre in Eindhoven) where my brother-in-law received stem cell treatment. I was devastated to hear your broadcast last night and felt physically sick. Why on earth is a "doctor" just off Harley Street in London being allowed to carry out the assessments for these patients if this is not legitimate? No mention was made of this part of the process in last night's programme, I'm not sure why this is, perhaps you were not aware of this. Our families raised the money to pay for this treatment in the hope that not only would my brother-in-law's health improve but the quality of life of his entire family who are dealing with his disability on a daily basis. I find it absolutely horrific to think that so many people at the various clinics are implicated in this - are the staff members at these clinics aware of the finer details and therefore guilty themselves in this conspiracy or are they just innocent employees? I would be most interested to obtain a copy of the transcript of last night's programme and also the previous airing on radio which I was not aware of.
Many thanks for your investigation even though it has devasted our hopes but at least it will save others going through with this in the vain hope of some miracle cure.

iam a 47year old male ihave severe m.s i was about to pursue stem cell treatment at the cost of 拢12000 i had my suspicions when they told us there were three steps upto the consultation room than to your programi will no longer be pursuing this thankyou from me and my family and many more with m.s paul from sheffield

Is there any way of viewing the program again as I only caught the last 20 minutes of it. My son is booked in for this treatment.

Thanks

Hi Newsnight,
When I try to listen to your programmes, if I have missed Newsnight, I can get the video OK, but even with the volume turned up, cannot hear the interviwer etc. Is it because I need to update my PC - at the moment it is a Microsoft Windows 98 SE? I cannot watch 大象传媒 Realplayer,because of Wanadoo, and have to use the other media source. Is this an extra problem?
Apologies for using this valuable space, but would like to hear the programme again, if I have missed the original.
Glad to hear Peter Barron was successful in his Edinburgh (debut?) - no objections on my part to his appearing, wish we could see a clip. His blog is always amusing and enjoyable. Like devious Wanadoo, I have to use devious methods to get round the problems of watching the items that appear on your programme - not a complaint, really enjoy Newsnight. Jennifer W

Thank you Newsnight for exposing this scam, i have just returned from London on the Bank Holiday after visiting my childhood friend who has severe progressive MS, while there we discussed Stem Cell Research and the possibilities it held for MS sufferers, i was about to do some further research this week, when last night i accidently tuned into Newsnight and caught your report, the people that are abusing the suffering of MS victims for financial benefit are lower than the low, they obviously do not know anything about the devastating effects of this disease, if any of they're family or freinds had suffered from this they would not have done what they have done.

Thank you 大象传媒 and Newsnight for showing the problems faced by people in Northern Uganda. Most people in Northern Uganda want the war to end.
At the moment 1000 people are dying in the camps each week. More than 1.5 million are living in IDP camps.
Many people in the Northern Uganda would prefer the amnesty option as a means of ending the war. The amnesty idea originates in the Acholi culture as a traditional means of conflict resolution. Most of them will even forgive the LRA leaders if it will bring long term peace to the region and, if they will confess the crimes they have committed. This war as been going on for more than 20 years, the international community has largely ingnored the suffering of millons of people in Northern Uganda. I will appeal to the British Government to support the amnesty option. Taking Kony and the top LRA leadership could derail the peace process, and in any case if they are convicted and given life sentences, where will they be held. For some one who has lived in the bush for more than 20 years a prison cell in the West will be like living in a 5 star hotel and to many Acholi people it will not look like punishment. It will cost millions of dollars to try them, money that could be better spend rebuilding Northern Uganda. I salute the 大象传媒 for this programe. Please help bring peace to the suffering people of Northern Uganda. I would like to talk to our Government Minsiters if possible. I was born there and lost several members of my family as a result of this war including my mother. Our Government talked to the IRA and forgave them, and released thier prisoners. IRA political representatives are MPs and sit in the House of Commons, so please give peace in Northern Uganda a chance. The LRA have committed some terrible things, but I think and hope to speak for many people from Northern Uganda, give peace a chance now. So that all people of Uganda can start enjoyng the peace dividend like we are enjoying in the UK.

I watched the 'exclusive' stem cell investigation and had a profound sense of deja vu. Radio 4 did this months ago and online ran this story:

What have you done with Jeremy? We miss him. Please come back soon.

There are a number of reputable Biopharmaceutical Companies actively researching new treatments for MS and other diseases.
Patients would be advised to discuss with their GP and/ or one of the patient groups before putting their hopes and life savings into the type of treatments as portayed on the program.

I have MS and use a wheelchair - I went to Rotterdam in May, I've seen no results and I now wish I'd never had this 'treatment'. What a sham.

Totally dismayed to see programme on stem cell therapy. My brother is booked into the PMC clinic in October for treatment for MS. Please, is there anyone out there who has something positive to report after receiving the treatment? Would very much like to hear from you.

Thank you

Less than 10 minutes ago I was telephoned by Naomi from ACT in Cape Town asking abut progress following my stem cell treatment in Eindhoven in February and asking if I wanted a booster injection! She appeared blissfully unaware of the Newsnight expose last night. When I questioned her she said she was very new to the job and that she knew nothing of this controversy, saying she would get "a doctor" to call me. I said that, as I had received no benefit whatsoever from the treatment I would like a refund of the 20,000 euros. I also asked for details of the potential risks to my health since the stem cells, as you reported, should not have been used for clinical human use, and contrary to all the information given by ACT prior to treatment, and on their website where they said no animal products were involved. I am not expecting a call!

Why does Eric Dicken's comment (25) get to be colour-coded in such a way that I had understood indicated an official response? What does the lavender mean then?

I've said before that many Newsnight items need to be made available permanently as items of record, in the original form at decent quality. Not just for the next 24 hours in a non-downloadable format that many cannot properly see (or hear). Not just possible included in the weekly iPod download in a roughly slashed form (much as that archival form is appreciated). Looks like the stem cell treatment item is another such item.

Credit to you for doing an extensive piece on an expensive and suspicious "cutting edge" treatment, but who, if not Newsnight, at the 大象传媒 will look at the wider picture that so many responses to this Blog entry hint at? The very good reasons for the lack of confidence so many have that treatment with some hope of cure or at least relief is made available though the normal channels (and the NHS) as promptly as possible. The ease with which conmen are able to appear to practise medicine. The lack of police interest in what can clearly be assaults, if not actual bodily harm or manslaughter.

These are very old-established problems, and they presently are getting worse, not least because research and approvals processes have been so commercialised, and so distorted by improper religious pressures, and because new tests and processes, some of which are overturning the basis for deeply cherished medical beliefs, are far outstripping the resources available to investigate and implement and bring to patients their potential benefits.

Many of those patients being either in very urgent need of help, or having long had conditions previously said to be untreatable - such as nerve damage and paralysis, which stem cell research has the potential to relieve. So there is huge unmet need out here and no proper or reliable means for patients to know what - if any - priority is being given, or where work is being done, or what new is or will be available, in the context of which the government's spending on their "NHS Direct" information service is a sick joke.

My husband has had a positive outcome from stem cell therapy. He has been pain free for 5 months.His circulation is improved
Funny how those with good outcomes are not being heard.
大象传媒 researcher contacted me but has so far not arranged interview - is this because it has worked?

Very interested to read Carole Westwell's comment on a positive outcome following stem cell therapy although she doesn't mention what her husband suffered from or where he received the treatment. Could we have more information please?
As a 大象传媒 researcher has contacted her does this mean we can expect further reports to follow with hopefully more information on positive outcome after treatment? My brother has today postphoned his treatment (scheduled for next month)following the programme & we are trying to gather as much information as possible as I am sure numerous other people are.

My brother had this treatment in June of this year to alleviate his motor neuron disease symptoms. He swears that - for five days - he felt much much better than he had done in the past five months. However, he had an accident that resulted in him splitting his chin open and requiring 5 stitches. The thing is the stitches healed in days and now just three months later there is barely a scar there on his chin (because of the stem cells?)!!!!
He is convinced that he felt some benefits - to he extent that we had been convinced by him to arrange a further treatment. We were due to go over to Rotterdam this week but are now uncertian as to whether this can go ahead because of the latest developments.

I'm very pleased for Kevin Fearon's brother and that he felt much better after receiving the treatment. My son also had this treatment in June/July and after about 5 days also felt that he had some movement in his neck and also that his foot started to straighten out and that he could place it flat on the floor in-stead of it being curled up, however it was short lived as he deteriorated within days from this relief resulting in him requiring an operation for a feed tube to be inserted as he could no longer swallow this was carried out on the 26th September and on the 30th September he passed away. Our son John was diagnosed with MND 3 years ago and slipped away aged 37years and 11 months. We do not know as to whether the treatment was or was not instrumental in his death.

Please note that comment #33 should read 15th May that John received his treatment and not previously stated June/July and that also his speech improved for a few days then he found that he could not swallow his food hence the operation for a feed tube to be fitted.Our family are trying to point out that the Stem cell treatment does not help everyone and gives false hope to the terminally ill.

Have the majority of homo sapiens realised that:- the earth rotates on its axis, and its sun.
The sun rotates around the galaxy.
The galaxy rotates around the cosmos, which has a composition of 80% dark matter, should the sun move thru any of this material, its volume and radiation will multiply, instantly obliterating the earth.

It's good to see Africa bypassing the industrial revolution and benefitting from the latest technology but to say it is trailblazing electronic payments by mobile phone is pushing the limit of journalistic interpretation. I've been able to pay by mobile phone since May 2006 using paypal's services.

I have looked at all the comments regarding the arch-bishops thoughts
but he is only the Leader of The Church of England. What about the Head of the Church of England and to mind my mind that is the QUEEN how does she see what Rowan - Williams has said as her second in command in the Church. What are her thoughts.