60 Minutes

[Hope66]

(CBS) Sunday, April 18, 2010
21ST CENTURY SNAKE OIL - 60 MINUTES hidden cameras expose medical conmen who prey on dying victims by using pitches that capitalize on the promise of stem cells to cure almost any disease. Scott Pelley reports. David Gelber, Sam Hornblower and Michael Radutzky are the producers. THIS IS A DOUBLE-LENGTH SEGMENT. Watch a preview
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This segment is about ALS folks who have been taken advantage of financially by a man who claimed to be able to treat them with "stem cell treatment." It appears to be a scam...and a very big scam...to the tune of $150K+.

My first thought is, "Someone needs to stop this man."

My second thought is, "yikes, will this throw negative light on the pioneer CCSVI researchers, participants and/or proponents of CCSVI research?"

What to do?

[BELOU]

Shit! hope not? Dr. Z is not a crook and he surely doesn't look like one. Don't think he has planned to turn billionnaire using his research.

Marc

[ozarkcanoer]

Dr Zamboni can't take advantage of us. He is no scam artist. He can't treat us !! Dr Zamboni is asking reputable doctors and researchers to look at CCSVI !!!

ozarkcanoer

[sbr487]

guys, what is wrong with you?

scamsters are highly secretive, that is their weapon.
people have replicated his work around the world.
The best tribute to him would be when there is no further discussion about this here.

[msrelly]

Not only was the man selling a "cure" to ALS patients, he was also selling it to MS patients, and had been for longer than he had been selling it to ALS.

While Zamboni and several others who are shining a light on this exciting development are legit, there will be others who swoop in to take advantage of pwMS. At last weeks AAN annual mtg, Dr. Z even cautioned patients not to get the procedure from "less than scrupulous practitioners".

We're on the verge of something really big, let's do it right so that we help the most people. I think the way that Dr. Zamboni and Dr. Zivadenov have recommended to proceed is a good way.

[ozarkcanoer]

msrelly, I totally agree with you. I am impressed with Dr Zamboni openly inviting research on CCSVI and collect more data so CCSVI is more acceptable to all the neuros. But I do believe there must be compassionate treatement. And I'm doing my best to "go local" as Joan advises and am going to highly reputable doctors, professors at my local medical school. I want my treatment at home where follow-up will be easier.

ozarkcanoer