Stem cell treatment results may not be complete or proven. That does not make it frivolous or a scam. It simply makes it unproven. I don't understand the argument that it is a waste of money. It *might* help. I think the current evidence is such that there is a chance it helps. I think $10,000 is a reasonable price.
$9,000 for a Hasomed FES and $81,000 for a crappy wheelchair is a scam. FES box should be no more than $500. Chair should be $2000. Chair production processes are standardized. They built mine in 10 days.
State sanctioned approval is driven by money. When the medical industry aligns with a profit motive, they will dictate changes with the government allowing progress. There simply isn't enough profit in healing SCI. There is way too much money being made with equipment. If the number of SCI increased to an amount that affected the insurance companies that are paying to care for us, the insurance lobby will push through changes that find a cure.
Incredible mark up on this "equipment" dlevy, no doubt there getting rich on our backs. Whenever the subject of cure comes up, I always wonder about the businesses currently profiting off of the present market. Whether it be cancer, MS, MD, or any chronic condition, how much influence do they have on changing the current standards. We never really know whats going on behind the scenes do we?
Stem cell treatment results may not be complete or proven. That does not make it frivolous or a scam. It simply makes it unproven. I don't understand the argument that it is a waste of money. It *might* help. I think the current evidence is such that there is a chance it helps. I think $10,000 is a reasonable price.
$9,000 for a Hasomed FES and $81,000 for a crappy wheelchair is a scam. FES box should be no more than $500. Chair should be $2000. Chair production processes are standardized. They built mine in 10 days.
State sanctioned approval is driven by money. When the medical industry aligns with a profit motive, they will dictate changes with the government allowing progress. There simply isn't enough profit in healing SCI. There is way too much money being made with equipment. If the number of SCI increased to an amount that affected the insurance companies that are paying to care for us, the insurance lobby will push through changes that find a cure.
If it cost more to supply people with equipment such as wheelchairs than for a cure don't you think insurance companies would be pushing for that break thru?
Also, it's not just that an unproven therapy may or may not work, it could be very harmful.
That's a major issue, even with FDA approval. They want to help get some treatments approved quickly where none exists now, but there are risks and sometimes even "legitimate" companies abuse that notion.
Simple, the insurance companies are not in the cure business. If half the population was suddenly paralyzed, the cure industry (health care) would have an incentive to cure because of the market size. The equipment industry would suppress the cure industry. I believe the market for equipment and care is suppressing a cure. Doesn't it seem strange that permobile can charge $81,000 for a wheelchair? How is that possible? It is possible because the market is small and captive. Shame on permobile.
Stem cell treatment results may not be complete or proven. That does not make it frivolous or a scam. It simply makes it unproven. I don't understand the argument that it is a waste of money. It *might* help. I think the current evidence is such that there is a chance it helps. I think $10,000 is a reasonable price.
$9,000 for a Hasomed FES and $81,000 for a crappy wheelchair is a scam. FES box should be no more than $500. Chair should be $2000. Chair production processes are standardized. They built mine in 10 days.
State sanctioned approval is driven by money. When the medical industry aligns with a profit motive, they will dictate changes with the government allowing progress. There simply isn't enough profit in healing SCI. There is way too much money being made with equipment. If the number of SCI increased to an amount that affected the insurance companies that are paying to care for us, the insurance lobby will push through changes that find a cure.
If it cost more to supply people with equipment such as wheelchairs than for a cure don't you think insurance companies would be pushing for that break thru?
Also, it's not just that an unproven therapy may or may not work, it could be very harmful.
That's a major issue, even with FDA approval. They want to help get some treatments approved quickly where none exists now, but there are risks and sometimes even "legitimate" companies abuse that notion.
Oh my, are you waiting for the FDA to initiate a cure? The FDA operates under the guidance of congress. Congress is operated under the guidance of corporations through lobbyist. Would fast tracking a cure be in the best interest of equipment manufacturers and care services? Of course not, and you should realize that corporations have no conscience and tons of money to purchase politicians. A perfect example is the driving rehab specialist organization. They paid to pass laws in 1994 that require their evaluation before any SCI victim can drive all under the guise of protecting the public and helping the unfortunate. I went through the various steps, all of which no part of the program actually taught me to drive using my arms only. Not one tip, not a single suggestion. It took six weeks to get that done and $700 to rehab person and $100 to the rehabs favored vendor for the required "training".
Stem cell treatment results may not be complete or proven. That does not make it frivolous or a scam. It simply makes it unproven. I don't understand the argument that it is a waste of money. It *might* help. I think the current evidence is such that there is a chance it helps. I think $10,000 is a reasonable price.
$9,000 for a Hasomed FES and $81,000 for a crappy wheelchair is a scam. FES box should be no more than $500. Chair should be $2000. Chair production processes are standardized. They built mine in 10 days.
State sanctioned approval is driven by money. When the medical industry aligns with a profit motive, they will dictate changes with the government allowing progress. There simply isn't enough profit in healing SCI. There is way too much money being made with equipment. If the number of SCI increased to an amount that affected the insurance companies that are paying to care for us, the insurance lobby will push through changes that find a cure.
Incredible mark up on this "equipment" dlevy, no doubt there getting rich on our backs. Whenever the subject of cure comes up, I always wonder about the businesses currently profiting off of the present market. Whether it be cancer, MS, MD, or any chronic condition, how much influence do they have on changing the current standards. We never really know whats going on behind the scenes do we?
Been following Richard Cohen's journey through prep for a stem cell treatment at the Tisch Center in Manhatten. He's had MS for over 30 yrs. Definitely a process to follow and keep a critical eye on. Interesting thing is they are using Mesenchymal stem cells extracted from his marrow, there is a center in Panama or Costa Rica that I looked into a couple of years ago. They were treating people with the same cells, although I'll bet the ones grown here in New York are USDA prime!!!! Heres the link . If you want to follow the blog he's at richardmcohen.com. Cant help myself I just gotta thank George W Busch again for putting the USA years behind in stem cell development (dick!!!) sorry.
Interesting documentary coming up Monday February 3 ( in the US anyway). Heres a link with some info……..http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/01/29/stem-cell-universe-with-stephen-hawking-premieres-february-3-on-science-channel/233063/
Anyone following the trail off stem cell science and research, this blog by April, an ALS patient treated recently in a Neuralstem phase II trial is the one to keep an eye on. check out this link and read for yourself…….http://aprilals.com/2014/02/12/my-first-real-outcome-measurements/. Very awesome. This is real science, that is early on but starting to show impressive findings in perhaps the deadliest autoimmune disease. Please check out this brave woman's blog.
Very interesting, ground breaking trial for Richard M Cohen, noted author and TV personality. Receiving his first infusion of stem cells at the TISCH center in New York to treat his MS which he has had for 30 years.