Crowdfunding campaigns for stem-cell treatments may be duping patients seeking relief and leaving donors out of pocket.
These campaigns, which encourage strangers to help fund medical procedures, fail to emphasize risks and often exaggerate efficacy, according to a new study co-authored by Jeremy Snyder, a bio-ethicist professor at Simon Fraser University.
“It’s a viral spread of misinformation,” he said. “They’re hyping the effectiveness of these treatments with no mention of risks whatsoever. Then all of it is being shared on social media, more than 100,000 times.”
