Probe set for death of 3 politicians due to stem cell therapy

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Medical Association (PMA) will investigate the circumstances of the death of three unnamed "politicians" reportedly caused by stem-cell therapy.

Refusing to name the said "high-ranking" government officials, PMA president Leo Olarte said in a radio interview that they underwent stem-cell intervention treatment in Germany and died after a year.

"Complications (from the therapy) occurred when they returned (to Manila). They developed a late hypersensitivity or graft-versus-host reaction. They died here in the Philippines," Olarte said.

The doctor explained that the politicians were grafted stem sells from sheep, rabbit as well as embryonic cells from aborted children or fetuses.

Olarte admitted that the probe has "not been easy" as relatives of the deceased officials have been hesitant to give details.

Germany, unlike in the Philippines, has policy in place allowing the use of stem cells from crocodiles, sheep, pigs, cows and rabbits -- a procedure that is complicated and risky, Olarte said.

He added that in the Philippines, only stem cells sourced from human tissue are allowed.

Medical facilities offering stem-cell treatment, moreover, have to be accredited and licensed. Olarte said that specialists from the Philippine Society for Stem Cell Medicine also offer safer and cheaper procedures in the country.

Stem-cell procedures are applied in a wide range of treatments for cancer, blindness, heart damage, baldness, missing teeth and even brain damage, to name a few.