The Texas Medical Board consists of 12 physician members and seven public members appointed for six-year term by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The full Board convenes five times a year. Typical Texas Medical Board business includes interviewing licensure candidates, considering disciplinary matters and adopting substantive and procedural rules. Additionally, Board committees address a variety of important issues.
Last week, the Texas Medical Board signed off on what's said to be the first state-level policy imposing oversight on experimental treatments using adult stem cells. The scientific community has mixed views on whether this is a good way to raise standards. Some experts say the rule will allow unscrupulous doctors to avoid U.S. Food and Drug Administration reviews. But others say it's a good-faith effort to bring oversight to controversial treatments that clinics around the world offer for diseases including arthritis and multiple sclerosis.
Researchers say the evidence of success of stem cell injections is anecdotal, and they advocate waiting for clinical trial results before allowing physicians to charge patients — typically tens of thousands of dollars — for the procedures.
The new guidelines allow for stem cell procedures as long as they are done for research and receive approval from an institutional review board, which can be private and for-profit. The rules also require that patients sign informed consent forms.
Last week, the Texas Medical Board signed off on what's said to be the first state-level policy imposing oversight on experimental treatments using adult stem cells. The scientific community has mixed views on whether this is a good way to raise standards. Some experts say the rule will allow unscrupulous doctors to avoid U.S. Food and Drug Administration reviews. But others say it's a good-faith effort to bring oversight to controversial treatments that clinics around the world offer for diseases including arthritis and multiple sclerosis.
Researchers say the evidence of success of stem cell injections is anecdotal, and they advocate waiting for clinical trial results before allowing physicians to charge patients — typically tens of thousands of dollars — for the procedures.
The new guidelines allow for stem cell procedures as long as they are done for research and receive approval from an institutional review board, which can be private and for-profit. The rules also require that patients sign informed consent forms.
