Doug Sipp: Misinformed... AGAIN!

In his typical unprofessional “journalistic” fashion, Doug Sipp has erroneously accused two prominent physicians of being associated with questionable individuals and organizations.  In a previous blog dated May 15, 2012 Sipp accused Dr. Nabil Dib, the Director, Cardiovascular Research, Catholic Healthcare West (CHW) Mercy Gilbert and Chandler Regional Medical Centers, Phoenix, AZ; Director, Clinical Cardiovascular  Cell Therapy Associate Professor of Medicine University of California, San Diego; Founder and President, International Society for Cardiovascular Translational Research (ISCTR); Founder, Co-Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Cardiovascular Translational Research (JCTR) of serving as "Chief of Staff of the stem cell transplant clinic at Stowe Biotherapy, a discredited stem cell company.  Had Sipp employed the most basic journalism 101 standards, and fact checked his information regarding Dr. Dib, he would have discovered that Dr. Dib was never associated with Stowe in any capacity.  In fact, Dr. Dib and the University of California, San Diego, formally requested that Stowe remove him from his website and any other correspondence connecting him with Stowe.  A simple phone call to Dr. Dib would have confirmed that he had no relationship with Stowe and that Stowe had been using Dr. Dib's name, credentials and status in the field of cardiology without permission.  In researching the web for any affiliation between Stowe Biotherapy and Dr. Dib, one only finds two documents, both of which were produced by Stowe Biotherapy and posted by Frantech, a franchise licensing company.

In the same blog, Sipp attempts to discredit Dr. Jackie See, another well-known interventional cardiologist, by implying that Dr. See's affiliation with the California Stem Cell Treatment Center somehow compromises his integrity as a medical professional.  It is important to note that Jackie See, MD, FACC is a Board certified internist, a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and a pioneer of the specialty of interventional cardiology.  He is founder of the teaching program of interventional cardiology at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine.  Dr. See is well published in peer-reviewed journals and is a member of several prestigious medical and scientific organizations.

Sipp also fails to point out that the California Stem Cell Treatment Center, a highly reputable company, specifically states on their website (http://stemcellrevolution.com) that they do not "....offer stem cell therapy as a cure for any condition, disease or injury."  They state they TREAT conditions. They do not purport to "CURE".  He would know that if he spent a little more time on their web site.

Stem Cell Revolutions mission is as follows:

"To advance cell technology in order to improve the body's ability to regenerate. “

“At the California Stem Cell Treatment Center, we provide care for people suffering from diseases that may be alleviated by access to adult stem cell based regenerative treatment. The Center utilizes a fat transfer surgical technology to isolate and implant the patient’s own stem cells from a small quantity of fat harvested by liposuction on the same day. Patients who seek care at the California Stem Cell Treatment Center are evaluated by a respective member of our multispecialty expert panel of Board Certified physicians representing many medical fields. The California Stem Cell Treatment Center emphasizes quality and is highly committed to clinical research and the advancement of regenerative medicine."

In spite of Sipp's inference, Dr. See has never had a violation with the FDA and to this day is a respected physician in good standing with the California Medical Association.  Over his distinguished career he has been a scientific advisor for many biotechnology companies and has participated in dozens of clinical trials in cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Sipp's careless attempt to discredit Dr. See is yet another example of his yellow journalism;  he selectively takes information without context and makes unethical assertions about the character and behavior of highly credentialed medical professionals.  Mr. Sipp’s reporting; clearly, Mr. Sipp’s neglectful and inaccurate portrayal of Drs. Dib and See, is a deliberate attempt to besmirch and otherwise damage the reputation, professional efforts and good standing of these doctors. While Mr. Sipp positions himself within the “Stem Cell Treatment Monitor” blog as “independent of my affiliation to any organization”, it is 100% clear to those within the industry that Mr. Sipp is an employee of the Riken Research Institute.  In fact, in all collateral materials and from all introductions at industry events where he participates, Mr. Sipp makes it very clear that he heads up the Science Policy and Ethics Studies Unit of the Riken Research Institute.  It is through the funding and support of Riken that he is able to establish his credibility and use this platform within the stem cell industry to say whatever he wants regardless of the factual basis for those comments.

Mr Sipp would do well to do his due diligence and dig a little deeper before he puts pen to paper.