“Defendants claim that they can treat a variety of serious medical conditions, including but not limited to, urologic diseases and erectile dysfunction, neurology diseases, cardiac/pulmonary disease, autoimmune diseases, and orthopedic conditions, even through there is currently no adequate scientific substantiation that these treatments will be effective; in fact, they could be harmful,” according to the lawsuit.
On its website, the clinic promotes what it describes as “personal cell therapy” to use your own cells to start or enhance “your own healing process.” The site goes on to promise “you will lead a life that is more meaningful and pain-free with services that will change your life and lifestyle.”
It lists what it claims is scientific literature suggesting “these cells may represent a medical breakthrough in the treatment of many chronic medical conditions.”
Patients would pay $3,995 or more for a stem cell procedure, according to the lawsuit. Many people thought they were part of a patient-funded research study, and regulators accused the clinic of giving patients the false impression that the treatments were part of a study approved by the F.D.A.
The clinic emphasized its research, including a long list of “reference articles and studies,” according to the lawsuit. “Such claims overstate the scientific legitimacy” of the clinic’s treatments, the regulators said.
Regulators also say Dr. Singer is operating a GoFundMe fund-raising campaign to perform stem cell treatments for free. “Not only chronic pain, but other ailments such as post traumatic brain syndrome, autoimmune diseases, orthopedic injuries and other ailments can be helped by this amazing procedure,” the campaign promises. So far, Dr. Singer appears not to have raised any money.
Since being contacted by state regulators, the clinic has revised its website and added numerous disclaimers, but state officials say consumers had a “net impression” that stem cells were an effective treatment for these various conditions. The website also appears to have been further changed to solely emphasize orthopedic conditions like arthritis or joint disease.
