Is the search for cerebral palsy 'cures' a reasonable and appropriate goal in the 2020s?
Ingrid Honan, Megan Finch-Edmondson, Christine Imms, Iona Novak, Amy Hogan, Shannon Clough, Bruce Bonyhady, Sarah McIntyre, Catherine Elliott, Shirley Wong, Michael Bink, Nadia Badawi
PMID 34402053WHAT IT FOUND
This paper debates the ethics of seeking cures for cerebral palsy.
It does not test any treatment or report patient outcomes, so it offers no evidence to change clinical practice.
What this paper is
This is a narrative review and ethical commentary regarding the debate over searching for 'cures' for cerebral palsy. It discusses definitions, stakeholder opinions, and ethical principles but reports no clinical trial results, patient outcomes, or efficacy data for any specific intervention. There are no findings here to change your clinical practice on.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the discussion of stem cell therapy or other interventions as evidence that they are proven or recommended. The paper reviews ethical arguments and community opinions, not clinical efficacy.