“Latest Stem Cells News”

The Brown-Darrell Clinic is advertising for a medic — but it does not seem any closer to opening its stem cell facility.

It would appear likely the new recruit, a family physician with a wide range of clinical experience, will work in the medical facility on the first floor of the Winterhaven clinic, although the people behind the project have refused to confirm this will be the case.
Premier Ewart Brown, wife Wanda and California-based Stemedica, who are teaming up for a stem cell treatment and research project on the second floor, have failed to respond to any questions about the launch of the controversial practice which is now several months behind schedule.

Last month, Bermuda was dropped from a list of research centres on Stemedica’s website, with company vice president Dave McGuigan explaining that the Island’s name had been placed alongside Switzerland, Korea, Mexico and Russia as an “oversight”. Brown-Darrell had initially said work would begin in late autumn last year.
In countries such as the US, UK and Canada, stem cell research is heavily monitored and legislated. George Daley, president of the International Society for Stem Cell Research, says he is very sceptical of anyone running experimental treatment in jurisdictions where there is no regulatory oversight, such as Bermuda. He has warned desperately sick patients who could be heading to the Island not to be misled into believing the treatment is a miracle cure.

Health Minister Nelson Bascome on January 28 said his Ministry will not be doing anything about Bermuda’s lack of adult stem cell regulations at this stage — but pledged to ensure good practices would be in place before a stem cell clinic opens.
At a news conference yesterday about a revised Bermuda Health Council, Mr. Bascome was questioned about his position on the Brown-Darrell Clinic, which is scheduled to open early this year.

When asked specifically about introducing legislation to effectively monitor and regulate the clinic, the Minister said nothing had come across his desk.
He said: “Anything that has to do with health in Bermuda will come across the desk of the Health Minister. Right now and I told the media last week, we put out the regulations for medical clinics.

“As the development of that clinic goes and other clinics on the Island, in terms of health we will ensure best practices and that the public is protected and at this time that is all we can say because there have been no official applications that have come across my desk.
“Until we see something that has to be affected by legislation I cannot really answer. It would have to be something proposed to use to deal with.”

In June last year, Premier Ewart Brown and his wife Wanda announced the opening of a stem cell research clinic in partnership with the American company Stemedica Cell Technologies on the site of the former Winterhaven property in Smith’s.
Since then, doctors have aired concerns about the lack of adult stem cell regulations in Bermuda, compared with jurisdictions such as the US, Canada and the UK, where the practice is heavily monitored by legislation introduced by those governments.

The Ministry of Health is considering developing new regulations to protect patients who will undergo stem cell treatment in Bermuda.

Nelson Bascome

The proposal — which would cover desperately ill people flying to the Brown-Darrell Clinic in Winterhaven, Smith’s — comes after vociferous complaints from international doctors about the Island’s lack of legislation.
Breaking his silence on the controversial topic by responding to Parliamentary Questions from Shadow Health Minister Louise Jackson, Health Minister Nelson Bascome also revealed the clinic will only be treating foreigners.

Asked by Mrs. Jackson whether moves are being made to oversee patient protection, Mr. Bascome replied: “There presently does exist a qualified, independent, ethical review committee which has a remit over services provided by the Bermuda Hospitals Board.
“The Ministry of Health is presently considering the development of a regulatory framework for any therapeutic or research stem cell treatment in Bermuda.”

The Brown-Darrell Clinic — a partnership between Premier Ewart Brown, his wife Wanda, and California-based Stemedica — was initially scheduled to open in 2007.
However, no information on the project has been provided since International Society For Stem Cell Research president George Daley was extremely critical of any group running experimental treatment in jurisdictions without regulatory oversight.