Challenges in the clinical translation of stromal vascular fraction therapy in regenerative medicine

Table 8 Ethical and social considerations in stromal vascular fraction therapy

Ethical/social aspect	Description	Implications	Strategies to address
Informed consent	Ensuring patients are fully aware of the procedures, risks, and benefits of SVF therapy	Ethical obligation to respect patient autonomy	Comprehensive consent forms. Clear communication of risks and benefits
Equitable access	Ensuring SVF therapies are accessible to all segments of the population regardless of socioeconomic status	Preventing healthcare disparities	Implementing insurance coverage. Subsidized treatment options
Commercialization and exploitation	Avoiding the commercialization of SVF therapies that exploit vulnerable patients	Protecting patients from unproven and overpriced treatments	Regulatory oversight. Strict marketing guidelines
Donor rights and ethical sourcing	Ensuring ethical procurement of adipose tissue, particularly from vulnerable populations	Respecting donor autonomy and preventing exploitation	Ethical sourcing protocols. Regulatory compliance
Public perception and trust	Maintaining public trust in regenerative medicine amidst unregulated clinic practices	Building and sustaining confidence in SVF therapies	Public education campaigns. Transparent clinical practices
Managing patient expectations	Aligning patient expectations with realistic therapeutic outcomes	Reducing disappointment and maintaining trust	Clear communication of therapy limitations and realistic outcomes
Regulatory compliance	Adhering to ethical and legal standards in SVF therapy development and application	Ensuring ethical integrity and patient safety	Ongoing regulatory training. Implementing best practice guidelines

SVF: Stromal vascular fraction.