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Unproven stem cell treatments exploit vulnerable autistic children
Desperate families spend thousands on highly dangerous procedures
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By Peter Clark (Senior Editor, Autism Info Center) Thursday 13th August 2026 |
An unregulated market for controversial stem cell therapies targeting autistic children is expanding rapidly across the United States.
Private clinics are charging families exorbitant fees for unapproved intravenous infusions of human umbilical cord cells.
These invasive procedures are being aggressively marketed as effective treatments for autism, despite a complete lack of rigorous scientific evidence supporting their safety or efficacy.
Medical experts warn that vulnerable children are effectively being used as test subjects in dangerous medical experiments.
The interventions often involve sedating young patients before injecting them with millions of cells, raising severe ethical and health concerns.
The national health regulator has previously cautioned that improper use of unapproved stem cell products can lead to serious complications, including infections and tumour formation.
However, critics argue that political shifts are currently loosening regulatory oversight, allowing these profit-driven clinics to operate with impunity.
Desperate parents, often feeling unsupported by traditional healthcare systems, are easily swayed by false promises of behavioural improvements.
Neurodiversity advocates have strongly condemned these practices, emphasising that autism is a natural developmental variation, not a disease requiring a cure.
They are demanding immediate government intervention to protect autistic children from physical harm and stop the financial exploitation of families everywhere.
Source: The Guardian (UK)
https://www.theguardian.com/society/ng-interactive/2026/jun/12/
Further reading, listening and viewing...
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