A growing number of clinics in the United States are administering non-FDA-approved stem cell treatments to autistic children, a trend coinciding with the policy orientations of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

美國越來越多診所正為自閉症兒童提供未經 FDA 核准的幹細胞治療，這一趨勢與衛生部長 Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 的政策導向不謀而合。

The proliferation of these clinics is characterized by the administration of umbilical cord-derived stem cells, often involving ketamine sedation and costs ranging from $8,000 to $20,000 per session. These interventions are frequently marketed as 'regenerative medicine' by practitioners whose primary expertise may lie in unrelated fields, such as plastic surgery or orthopedics. While some parents report anecdotal improvements in behavioral and communicative functions, clinical evidence remains insufficient. A rigorous double-blind, placebo-controlled study conducted by Duke University involving 180 children concluded that such treatments were not associated with a reduction in autism symptoms.

這些診所的擴張特點在於施用臍帶衍生幹細胞，通常涉及使用氯胺酮（ketamine）麻醉，每次費用介於 8,000 至 20,000 美元之間。這些干預措施經常被從事非相關領域（如整形外科或骨科）的從業者標榜為「再生醫學」。雖然部分家長報告在行為與溝通功能上有個案上的改善，但臨床證據仍不足。杜克大學針對 180 名兒童進行的一項嚴格雙盲、安慰劑對照研究結論指出，此類治療與自閉症症狀的减轻沒有關聯。

Institutional oversight appears to be in a state of flux. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has expressed a desire to diminish the FDA's regulatory constraints on the 'wellness industry' and has specifically advocated for the cessation of federal opposition to stem cell therapies. This shift is evidenced by the appointment of alternative medicine proponents, such as Tracy Slepcevic, to the Autism Coordinating Committee and the reduction of federal autism research funding by approximately $31 million. Furthermore, some providers have attempted to justify the legality of these procedures by citing the 'Right to Try Act' or specific state statutes; however, legal experts assert that autism does not meet the 'life-threatening' criteria required by federal law, nor is it covered under the specific orthopedic and pain management provisions of Florida's relevant legislation.

體制監管似乎處於變動狀態。衛生部長 Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 表示希望減少 FDA 對「健康產業」的監管限制，並明確主張停止聯邦政府對幹細胞療法的反對。這種轉變體現在任命如 Tracy Slepcevic 等替代醫學支持者進入自閉症協調委員會，以及將聯邦自閉症研究經費削減約 3,100 萬美元。此外，部分提供者試圖引用《嘗試權法案》（Right to Try Act）或特定州法律來證明這些程序的合法性；然而，法律專家主張自閉症並不符合聯邦法律要求的「危及生命」標準，亦不屬於佛羅里達州相關立法中關於骨科與疼痛管理的特定條款。

Concurrent with domestic expansion, a rapprochement between U.S. advocates and international providers has emerged. This is exemplified by a proposed clinical trial in Tijuana, Mexico, led by the Cellular Performance Institute, which intends to test umbilical stem cells in 120 children with the objective of eventually securing U.S. approval. More extreme practices have also been noted, including the administration of fetal sheep and rabbit stem cells in Thailand, a practice that biologists warn could trigger adverse immune responses. Despite FDA warnings regarding risks such as tumor formation and blindness, the perceived inadequacy of government support for high-needs autistic children continues to drive families toward these high-cost, unverified interventions.

在國內擴張的同時，美國倡導者與國際提供者之間出現了接洽。例如在墨西哥蒂華納由 Cellular Performance Institute 領導的一項擬議臨床試驗，擬在 120 名兒童身上測試臍帶幹細胞，目標是最終獲得美國核准。亦有更極端的做法被注意到，包括在泰國施用胎羊與胎兔幹細胞，生物學家警告這可能會觸發不良免疫反應。儘管 FDA 警告存在腫瘤形成與失明等風險，但由於感知到政府對高需求自閉症兒童的支持不足，持續驅使家庭選擇這些高成本且未經證實的干預措施。

The current landscape is defined by a tension between rigorous scientific standards and a burgeoning market of alternative therapies supported by high-level political influence.

目前的局面定義於嚴格的科學標準與在高層政治影響下迅速成長的替代療法市場之間的緊張關係。