Читать книгу The SAGE Encyclopedia of Stem Cell Research - Группа авторов - Страница 369

An ethical consideration for all clinical trials is the financial well-being of participants. Individuals suffering from significant medical conditions are a “vulnerable population,” many of whom are willing to entertain even the most outlier treatments for the hope of returning to a normal life. Many insurances do not cover the experimental treatments of clinical trials, or will only cover them when other traditional treatment options are foregone. Clinical trials do frequently offer free or reduced-price treatments; however, costs can still place a significant burden on patients and their families. These factors must again be included in the risk/benefit analysis by patients as there is a tendency to underestimate costs, especially for innovative new procedures.

Commercialization of stem cells, stem cell processes, and SCT can add to both the financial burden of patients and their access to treatment. U.S. law allows for the patenting of both laboratory processes and stem cell lines, enabling patent holders to control who may use the products and at what expense. While it is arguably in their financial interest to allow patented items to be used in clinical trials (and thus advancing potential commercial use), this is entirely up to the patent owner and is not mandated. Prices resulting from companies hoping to recoup development expenses can make the cost of participation in trials prohibitory. It can also lead to advertising and funding pressures on clinicians and caregivers, creating bias when discussing treatment options, as even the best-intentioned clinicians may overestimate the value of SCT in order to meet obligations.