An increasing number of clinics in the United States are providing stem cell treatments for autistic children that have not been approved by the FDA. This trend is happening at the same time as changes in policy led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

越來越多美國診所提供未經 FDA 批准的幹細胞治療來治療自閉症兒童。這一趨勢正與衛生部長 Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 領導的政策變革同步發生。

Many of these clinics use stem cells from umbilical cords, often requiring patients to be sedated with ketamine. These sessions can cost between $8,000 and $20,000. Although these treatments are marketed as 'regenerative medicine,' they are often provided by doctors who specialize in other areas, such as plastic surgery. While some parents claim their children have improved, scientific evidence is lacking. For example, a major study by Duke University involving 180 children found that these treatments did not actually reduce autism symptoms.

許多診所使用臍帶幹細胞，且通常要求患者使用氯胺酮（ketamine）麻醉。這些療程的費用在 8,000 到 20,000 美元之間。雖然這些治療被標榜為「再生醫學」，但通常是由專攻其他領域（例如整形手術）的醫生提供。儘管部分家長聲稱孩子有所改善，但缺乏科學證據。例如，杜克大學一項涉及 180 名兒童的大型研究發現，這些治療實際上並未減輕自閉症症狀。

Government oversight is currently changing. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has stated that he wants to reduce FDA restrictions on the 'wellness industry' and stop federal opposition to stem cell therapies. Consequently, the government has appointed supporters of alternative medicine to advisory roles and reduced federal autism research funding by about $31 million. Some clinics claim these procedures are legal under the 'Right to Try Act,' but legal experts emphasize that autism is not a 'life-threatening' condition, which is a requirement for that law to apply.

政府監管目前正在改變。衛生部長 Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 表示，他希望減少 FDA 對「健康產業」的限制，並停止聯邦政府對幹細胞療法的反對。因此，政府任命了替代醫學的支持者擔任顧問角色，並將聯邦自閉症研究資金削減了約 3,100 萬美元。部分診所聲稱這些程序在「嘗試權法案」（Right to Try Act）下是合法的，但法律專家強調，自閉症並非「危及生命」的情況，而這是該法案適用的必要條件。

At the same time, US advocates are working more closely with international providers. For instance, a clinical trial is being planned in Mexico to test umbilical stem cells in 120 children. In some cases, more dangerous practices have been reported in Thailand, where fetal cells from sheep and rabbits are used. Biologists warn that this could cause severe immune reactions. Despite FDA warnings about risks like tumors or blindness, many families continue to seek these expensive treatments because they feel the government does not provide enough support for children with high needs.

與此同時，美國的倡導者正與國際供應商更緊密地合作。例如，墨西哥正計劃進行一項臨床試驗，在 120 名兒童身上測試臍帶幹細胞。在某些情況下，泰國出現了更危險的做法，使用了羊和兔的胎兒細胞。生物學家警告，這可能會導致嚴重的免疫反應。儘管 FDA 警告過可能導致腫瘤或失明等風險，但許多家庭仍繼續尋求這些昂貴的治療，因為他們認為政府對高需求兒童的支持不足。

The current situation shows a conflict between strict scientific standards and a growing market for alternative therapies that are supported by political influence.

目前的情況顯示，嚴格的科學標準與在政治影響下日益增長的替代療法市場之間存在衝突。