Medra Fetal Stem Cell Company Busted by the BBC

Peddling hope and stem cells
Linda Oatley

Open Door - August 2009 page 9

I can appreciate what people chasing stem cell cures are doing. At one point there, during the early weeks and months of my diagnosis, I would have done anything and gone anywhere for the cure. That's the key.

My symptoms began in 1998. Originally I self-diagnosed myself as having a trapped nerve of some sort. I went to a chiropractor and on to a physiotherapist and it was the physio who first mentioned that it might be neurological. From there it was to the GP for a referral to a neurologist and then a MRI before I was told that it was MS.

It was the mental side of coming to terms with MS that was so much more traumatic than any physical effects. I was not unaware of what MS was on an intellectual level, but I was scaring myself to death and I thought I was going to die.

Of the people I know through the neuro-physiotherapy clinic where I am a trustee, there is one young woman with MS who has spent £13,000 to travel to Europe for stem cell treatment. It was useless - there is no change at all, if anything she has probably become marginally worse. But she is a young woman who needs an electric wheelchair that she can only operate some of the time. I don't think I could have been the one to say 'Don't do it'.

I also know a young man who has very jerky movements and his speech is quite slurry. He uses a wheelchair and needs three physiotherapists to help him stand. Every week, he asks me,'Linda, when are we getting these stem cells? Where are they?' I tell him it could be five years or maybe 10, I really don't know. I say the same stuff to him every week, but he's young, he's got to wait, it will, hopefully be there for him in a legitimate way, some day very soon. I know if he could afford it, he would travel abroad for treatment.

To explore the 'hope' offered by overseas stem cell clinics I accepted an invitation from the BBC's Panorama programme to participate in a report they were putting together on the sale of foetal stem cells for neurological diseases.

Through its website, I contacted a company called Medra (www.medra.com ) which sells treatment with foetal stem cells collected in eastern Europe. I arranged to have the treatment for $30,000 at their clinic in the Dominican Republic, where I would be treated by with the principal Dr William Rader. Naturally I had no intention of going through with the process.

I travelled to the Dominican Republic in March accompanied by Jim, the BBC producer who was to play the part of my 'brother'. This was not as exciting as it might sound. It was hot and sticky, the food not very good and the Dominican drivers are total nutcases. I was also a tad nervous about what was to come. Medra had wanted to know flights, room numbers, etc, which I felt was scary. We were not given any information about the clinic or where it was - they held all the cards.

On the day of the appointment, Jim and I spent the morning practicing our parts and he kitted me out with a mini camera which looked like a button with the gubbins strapped around my waist. Jim also had a mini camera in his filo-fax case. The plan was for me to get Dr Rader to say on camera what he had said to me on the phone - that the stem cells would remyelinate the nerves and I would get back full functionality and that he had seen MRI scans that showed damaged nerves repaired and all scars disappear.

We were taken by mini bus to a Spanish Colonial beach house and reversed into a court yard behind high gates. We were left alone for a while with white coated people coming and going…a fantastic view of the sea through wafty curtains but still behind a gated fence. Whilst we sat there I saw Dr Rader holding court and I also saw travels cheques changing hands. Based on the activity, Jim and I afterwards calculated that about $120,000 changed hands every hour! There are two days of clinics per month that we know about; small wonder that he's a millionaire!

We were shown to a treatment room with a small bed and medical paraphernalia on a bedside table. A few minutes later Dr Rader came in with a young assistant and asked again how he could help me. I played the nervous patient, which was not much of a stretch! I said I was worried and what could he tell me about the treatment, how does it work and is it safe, etc. He made all of the same comments he'd made before, which is what Jim had wanted.

We now had to get out of there. I said I needed a few more minutes to get used to the idea and get over my nerves. Perhaps we could come back tomorrow. He was telling me, and encouraging Jim to tell me,'Linda, you've got to have this injection.' This was akin to foot-in-the-door double glazing salesman tactics, it was hideous. He basically saying,'Let me, the clever doctor who knows better than you, decide what's best here.'

There is an intimidation factor around doctors, and people like Rader play on that. Why would you not believe him? He's standing there and saying 'I've treated 1,000 or 1,500 patients, 40 with MS and I've seen spectacular results so don't worry, just trust me.' But I knew more about him than most would. I knew of his previous incarnation on TV and that he is qualified as a psychiatrist. I knew he is a qualified doctor, but not in any sort of discipline around neurology.

In any event I talked us into the courtyard area to think again. We had decided at some point that Jim would go back to the reception area and say his 'sister' was now a bit hysterical - also not a stretch since I was so nervous I actually wanted to giggle. By coincidence another mini bus had just backed into the courtyard and Jim was able to bundle me and my chair into it as another lady with MS got out with her husband.

Jim was delighted with all the footage we had and I was just relieved. We changed hotels, just in case, and we left the island the next day. So that's why I've changed my name to Bond, Jane Bond!!

Dr Rader was given the right of reply and was interviewed in his Californian home. When he was asked about scientific proof and medical outcomes he was very angry and threatened the BBC with his attorney before eventually deciding that any publicity was good publicity. In the finished film he says, "In the long run it doesn't hurt me so long as you spell my name correctly because patients don't give a damn what you say about this intellectual shit... We will get patients from this."

http://www.mstrust.org.uk/information/opendoo...

Miss Megan,

IF you google Ripoffreport.com and type in Medra in the search engine, Medra is exposed for the fraudulent stem cell operation it is.

Also, google Youtube.com and type in The Truth About Medra. The BBC exposed Medra and Beike as fraudulent stem cell companies.

William C Rader, who owns and operates Medra, has engaged in one scam after another, his entire life. He's more fraudulent than Bernie Madoff and Goldman Sachs put together.

I went to get stem cells from Dr Ripoff Rader twice. I've had no improvements from his ripoff injections. Medra is a scam!!!!!!!!!!

Dr. Rader is a TRUE BLESSING. I don't think the BBC thing by any means showed any scam at all.I do believe there was quite a bit of Linda Oately's assumptions thrown in I guess for good reading.

Actually I thought it was GREAT it showed how much he cares about the patients NOT the money when she was nervous & claimed she wanted to count her $, he told her never mind the $ lets get you well again.

This is an old article why is it being posted 3 months later? well too bad some may believe that it doesn't work. There are so many that know Fetal Stem cells are the way to go. The US actually is doing Fetal Stem Cell Trials hopefully we can all get them in our own country soon. But until then I would travel to the Alaska or anywhere else for that matter to get the same results as we have.

We are forever thankful that we had found Dr. Rader. Words could never express what he has done to make our lives complete. I met so many others who as well have gotten huge positive results.

We all know that Dr. Rader takes alot of heat from others, but when your life is given back as a result of his treatments, I say shame on those that say anything negative about him. He is the BEST DOCTOR EVER.

I wish I had this information 2 years ago.

I already did, get stem cell treatment, in the Dominican Republic, by Dr William Rader. I was told not to go. But out of desparation I went.
I am complete and there has been no change, EXCEPT increased neuropathic pain, and increased spasms.
I knew if I didn't go, I would regret that I might have missed an opportunity to be cured. So I went.
But now I will advise what others advised me, BeWARE BeWARNED, there are many like Dr Rader that prey on the desparate. If it is too good to be true.......

Now that the FDA has approved clinical studies for stem cell research in the United States, I can only hope it progresses quickly with positive results so that maybe there will be hope for us, for treatments that work, and hope for the CURE

Life Line wrote:

Dr. Rader is a TRUE BLESSING. I don't think the BBC thing by any means showed any scam at all.I do believe there was quite a bit of Linda Oately's assumptions thrown in I guess for good reading.
Actually I thought it was GREAT it showed how much he cares about the patients NOT the money when she was nervous & claimed she wanted to count her $, he told her never mind the $ lets get you well again.
This is an old article why is it being posted 3 months later? well too bad some may believe that it doesn't work. There are so many that know Fetal Stem cells are the way to go. The US actually is doing Fetal Stem Cell Trials hopefully we can all get them in our own country soon. But until then I would travel to the Alaska or anywhere else for that matter to get the same results as we have.
We are forever thankful that we had found Dr. Rader. Words could never express what he has done to make our lives complete. I met so many others who as well have gotten huge positive results.
We all know that Dr. Rader takes alot of heat from others, but when your life is given back as a result of his treatments, I say shame on those that say anything negative about him. He is the BEST DOCTOR EVER.

When did Alaska get booted out of the US? Did we have a Civil War that I don't know about?

IF you don't know the 50 states, then how is anyone expected to believe in your credibility.

Rader is a fraud and has been proven to be one, time and time again.

Life Line wrote:

Dr. Rader is a TRUE BLESSING. I don't think the BBC thing by any means showed any scam at all.I do believe there was quite a bit of Linda Oately's assumptions thrown in I guess for good reading.
Actually I thought it was GREAT it showed how much he cares about the patients NOT the money when she was nervous & claimed she wanted to count her $, he told her never mind the $ lets get you well again.
This is an old article why is it being posted 3 months later? well too bad some may believe that it doesn't work. There are so many that know Fetal Stem cells are the way to go. The US actually is doing Fetal Stem Cell Trials hopefully we can all get them in our own country soon. But until then I would travel to the Alaska or anywhere else for that matter to get the same results as we have.
We are forever thankful that we had found Dr. Rader. Words could never express what he has done to make our lives complete. I met so many others who as well have gotten huge positive results.
We all know that Dr. Rader takes alot of heat from others, but when your life is given back as a result of his treatments, I say shame on those that say anything negative about him. He is the BEST DOCTOR EVER.

Young Lady, if you want to a be part of my team, stop embarrassing me. I realize your education was interrupted by an extended stay in a psychiatric hospital, but even a damaged person, such as yourself, should know that Alaska is part of the United States.

Furthermore, your fake testimonies read like a fourth grader's attempt to sell fund-raising wrapping paper. Try using less adjectives like great, huge and best. Have you heard of a thesaurus?

Please do not attempt to call me 100 times today, I will be busy.

Medra/Emcell Warning

The www.stemcellcommunity.org strongly urges all its readers NOT to use, advertise, or support any of the following "Quacks" that soil the quality scientific nature of future stem cell therapies. These companies should be considered to accommodate the delivery of dangerous untested therapies based on no experimentally based scientific merit at the expense of their patients. Please see www.quackwatch.com for more extensive analysis and excellent commentary of these unwarranted claims. More information on these companies to come… Read more at Quackwatch:

1. Medra,Inc,
William C. Rader, M.D

2. VitaNova, Yuliy V. Baltaytis, MD, PhD, Recently arrested in Hangary for illegal fetal stem cell treatments.

Baltayis collaberated with Rader

3. Brain Cell Therapeutic Clinic, David Steenblock, D.O.

One Medra miracle patient directly connected to Steenblock, another one can be traced to his homeopathic group.

4. Embryonic Tissues Center,
Alexander Smikodub, M.D., Ph.D., and Alexey Karpenko, M.D., Ph.D

William C Rader trained at Emcell.

According to Smikodub, Rader visited “about 10 times” between 1995 and 1997 and “underwent several courses of stem cell therapy.” Via e-mail, Smikodub said that Rader was intrigued by stem cells.“He tried to become our partner and investor, and many documents were signed … In May 1997, he demonstratively terminated our relations without having fulfilled any of his obligations.”

My mother Pat took me for Dr. Raders treatment I have a spianl cord injury. I have nothing bad to say about Dr. Rader, I knew going into this it may or may not work, but I had to at least try. I had minimal results but certainly not worse off.

Unfortunately my mother didn't take it so well and she is looking for revenge on Dr. Rader. She has been very emotionally ruined by my accident so she sometimes vents her anger the wrong way.

I am glad I went & hope to either return again or if it becomes available in the U.S soon.

Please say more about this. What is/was your situation and how did Dr. Rader's treatments help you?

Life Line wrote:

Dr. Rader is a TRUE BLESSING. I don't think the BBC thing by any means showed any scam at all.I do believe there was quite a bit of Linda Oately's assumptions thrown in I guess for good reading.
Actually I thought it was GREAT it showed how much he cares about the patients NOT the money when she was nervous & claimed she wanted to count her $, he told her never mind the $ lets get you well again.
This is an old article why is it being posted 3 months later? well too bad some may believe that it doesn't work. There are so many that know Fetal Stem cells are the way to go. The US actually is doing Fetal Stem Cell Trials hopefully we can all get them in our own country soon. But until then I would travel to the Alaska or anywhere else for that matter to get the same results as we have.
We are forever thankful that we had found Dr. Rader. Words could never express what he has done to make our lives complete. I met so many others who as well have gotten huge positive results.
We all know that Dr. Rader takes alot of heat from others, but when your life is given back as a result of his treatments, I say shame on those that say anything negative about him. He is the BEST DOCTOR EVER.

Let the buyer beware Medra has been a red flag for years.

I was following the fetal stem cell board until is became an insane asylum. It seems all the people on that board are salesmen or a disgruntled customer. Found some information on my own for a yahoo board from over a year ago.

Off another board

Re: Human Fetal Stem Cell Therapy with Medra, Inc.

Dr. Rader is a psychiatrist - who married Sally Stuthers. His
publications include 2 "All in the Family" scripts - not peer
reviewed stem cell research … perhaps because he specialized in
eating disorders (until he found this more lucrative (and is now
moving towards using stem cells for cosmetic purposes). Though he
has an office in CA - his Medra work is done in other countries for
reasons that includes him in the Shady Side of Stem Cell Research..
People who have worked with him feel the same - one researcher/writer
gave him a clear thumbs down evidencing flat out false claims. Rader
used to do business in the Bahamas … until that government
government asked him to leave after some really bad results -
including the death of a child. This hardly seems like a great resume
to trust your money/future/life.

What's more, we don't know the quality (or creature of origin) of his
stem cells. I've read they may come from aborted fetus … but dead
cells cannot be reanimated to cause rejuvination. Even those
collected under sanitary conditions and still alive will cause
tumors, graft/host disease, etc. if just injected in any quality
to 'do any good'.

As one expert put it:'Patients risk at best wasting a lot of money
on a treatment that is not proven in clinical trials and at worst one
that is putting their health at serious risk,' with respect to Dr.
Rader's 'treatments'.

Conversely, there is a lot of positive studies coming out with stem
cells from the patients. The searchable database at
http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov puts researchers with patients who are
looking for help ASAP (you'll note it's a US government site). These
researchers are under scrutiny to ensure you are not put in needless
risk. Prior peer reviewed publications and proven success in animal
studies are instrumental in receiving clinical trial approval.

One of my distant family members took her son to the D.R for autism about three months ago and has not seen any results.

Amy Vinson <amylynnvinson@...> wrote:
Rita,
Thanks so much. Can you tell me roughly what types of injuries/dx were
they? And where in China is the most desirable place for treatment?

Amy

--- In stemcellsafety@yahoogroups.com , rdbadge@... wrote:
>
> I know of 3 families that have went to the Dominican Republic and
have not
> seen any improvements. I would suggest going to China. You get so
much more
> for your money. All the therapies you get. You dont get that in
D.R.
>
> Rita

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/stemcell...

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/stemcell...

Dena wrote:

Please say more about this. What is/was your situation and how did Dr. Rader's treatments help you?
<quoted text>

I would love to tell you more but on this public forum, their is a nonrelenting group of crazy people who change their names & make up fictious allegations against Dr. Rader & the patients they treat. So none of his patients post much due to this harassment.

If you are interested in more information call Medra someone will assist you & give you whatever information you may need.

It is unfortunate that these 3-4 people have made it so that people are afraid to tell of their experience to help others with information.But until they find other victims to bully, I can not again post my email address they have harassed me enough, so I changed my email adress to keep them away.

I hope that if you are in need of assistance, that Dr. Rader can treat it, it is well worth it. Best Wishes to you & yours

By the way Richard that is just another alias I just read your exact post on the Fetal Stem Cell forum that you say you DO NOT go on.

You are a fraud & a liar what goes around comes around

Barbara Mansfield wrote:

Miss Megan,
IF you google Ripoffreport.com and type in Medra in the search engine, Medra is exposed for the fraudulent stem cell operation it is.
Also, google Youtube.com and type in The Truth About Medra. The BBC exposed Medra and Beike as fraudulent stem cell companies.
William C Rader, who owns and operates Medra, has engaged in one scam after another, his entire life. He's more fraudulent than Bernie Madoff and Goldman Sachs put together.

I doubt Dr Rader is telling the truth. He appears to be selling hope, which in turn, motivates people to fight on.

I saw Dr Rader speak at a conference about domestic abuse. He spoke about abuse and the relationship to eating disorders. His thoughts were interesting, although unproven.

One of his colleagues gave a great speech about emotional abuse and all the tactics abusers use to keep their victims from leaving. I learned a lot, like why batterers threaten, kill or try to kidnap animals.

Abusers kidnap or harm family pets for a variety of reasons. To demonstrate and confirm power and control over the victim. In some cases, abusers take animals to eliminate competition for attention.
Usually it is to prevent the victim from leaving or coerce them to return. If the victim has escaped or filed a restraining order, family pets are used to punish the victim for leaving.

Sorry I digress, I have a hard time believing Dr Rader has found a treatment for everything from depression to brain damage. Sounds like a scam.

Well most people have doubts with any new treatment that they never heard of or seems too good to be true,as a friend once said it is a leap of hope. If Dr.Rader was selling only hope then 3 month old babies wouldn't have medically documented improvements. Hope is strong but it can not improve many things to the point of the improvements seen after treatment by Dr.Rader. Just as well the results would be temporary.

When we took our leap of hope,we knew it may not repair all but at least there was a fighting chance,opposed to none.We got much more than hope we got more than we had ever thought possible.

Stem cells are not for everyone. Each person makes their own decision to take the leap or not. Neither decision is wrong it is ones preference.

All too often people feel they should mock,intimidate & disrespect the people that have chosen to be treated.Why ? I honestly do not know. I have yet to see someone mocked for choosing not to be treated.
Their life their decision, nobody elses business.

Yes some things are hard to believe however seeing,witnessing,& touching these realities lets you know that it is real,and well worth the leap.

Shame on those that try to force their decisions onto others as well as mock them for trying to help a sick person.

Medra miracle patients have been exposed. Here is the truth.

MEDRA MIRACLES ARE BASED ON LIES & OMISSIONS TO STEER YOU TOWARDS A BOGUS STEM CELL TREATMENT FOR SPINAL CORD INJURY, MS, ALS, AUTISM, Cerebral Palsy. Down SYNDROME, EPILEPSY, MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, PARKINSON'S, SEIZURES,ANTI_AGING, CANCER, AIDS

MEDRA MIRACLE DOCUMENTED FACTS:

MIRACLE PATIENTS

SEE BELOW

Brian's miracle is from the Medra website

TAKE NOTE:

My son Brian suffered a series of debilitating strokes following a rare infection of his brain in December 2003 at the age of 5

Although he was improving, eventually Brian was left blind, unable to speak, could only minimally move only his right side and appeared to be extremely cognitively impaired.

This continued for three years until I found Dr. Rader who agreed to treat Brian with the Fetal Stem Cells.

go to medra website and view

NOW LOOK AT THE NEXT LINK. JAKE BROWER AKA BRIANS MIRACLE toting another doctor in august 2006 before Rader. As you can see he was eating and walking assisted before Medra and Dr Rader. Surely this is a not a SEMI VEGETATIVE STATE.-NOTICE SOME OF THE SAME PICTURES are USED . See the thank you letter to the Doctors for giving Jake a miracle.!

http://web.archive.org/web/20061111063401/www...

The parents now work for William C Rader
__________
TRUTH : HOPE FOR HANNAH

Hannah, on the video it says her EEG is returning to normal and her brain is healed.

google medra hope for hannah

But her mom's journal tells THE COMPLETE STORY

http://www.hopeforhannah.ca/journal_may_09.ht...

Our neurologist came in on Thursday afternoon and broke the news to us that we were already expecting. Hannah’s EEG is much worse (although she is sick). She is having very frequent absence, atypical absence and complex partial seizures that are very difficult to detect with the naked eye. These are often called,“subclinical�. She also had the three tonic seizures. He changed her emergency medication from Ativan to intranasal midazolam because Midazolam is stronger, and has a quicker onset than Ativan. He arranged for Oxygen to be installed in our home because her oxygen saturations drop after seizures and this can increase brain damage. He ordered a repeat MRI to see if there has been any change from the previous 2 MRI’s that she has had. He is looking for atrophy or areas of dysgenesis in the brain. He also ordered a muscle biopsy to complete the full metabolic/genetic screen from 2 years ago.

TRUTH: Ricci - Spinal Cord

“I was told by all my doctors that I would never be able to walk again. Three months after my stem cell treatment I was able for the first time to feel my legs. Today I am walking�.

go to Medra watch second video about Clayton and Ricci

THESE ARTICLES ARE FROM THE FIRST YEAR OF INJURY

http://pioneer.olivesoftware.com/Repository/m...

Publication:Idaho State; Date:Mar 22, 2000

http://pioneer.olivesoftware.com/Repository/m...

ISU pole vaulters surgery successful

By The Journal Staff

__________
Injured Bengal pole vaulter regains feeling
By The Journal Staff

RENO, Nev. Following successful surgery Tuesday on Ricci Kilgores broken back, feeling has been restored throughout her legs and into her toes, and physical therapy could begin as early as the end of the week.

Kilgore, a freshman pole vaulter from Idaho State, was injured as she and two others freshman track athletes returned home from a trip to Reno, Nev.

A 6-8 hour surgery was performed Tuesday at Renos Washoe Medical Center to repair and relieve pressure on a ruptured vertebrae in her broken back.

Contacted in Intensive Care Wednesday morning at Washoe, Kilgore said she has regained feeling to her toes and said she may begin physical therapy at the end of the week to begin the recovery process.

Date:Mar 23, 2000;

Injured Bengal pole vaulter regains feeling
By The Journal Staff

RENO, Nev. Following successful surgery Tuesday on Ricci Kilgores broken back, feeling has been restored throughout her legs and into her toes, and physical therapy could begin as early as the end of the week.

Kilgore, a freshman pole vaulter from Idaho State, was injured as she and two others freshman track athletes returned home from a trip to Reno, Nev.

A 6-8 hour surgery was performed Tuesday at Renos Washoe Medical Center to repair and relieve pressure on a ruptured vertebrae in her broken back.

Contacted in Intensive Care Wednesday morning at Washoe, Kilgore said she has regained feeling to her toes and said she may begin physical therapy at the end of the week to begin the recovery process.

http://pioneer.olivesoftware.com/Repository/m...

njured ISU athlete on way back home

By The Journal Staff

RENO, Nev. Idaho State freshman Ricci Kilgore has progressed to outpatient status, two months after suffering a broken back in a traffic accident here.

Kilgore, a pole vaulter for the Idaho State track and field team last fall, was thrown from a van on the way back to Pocatello from Reno, Nev., on March 19. During the initial hours following the accident, Kilgore had no feeling in her legs or toes.

Surgery was performed after the accident to repair the injured vertebrae and the long road of recovery started with physical therapy sessions to strengthen the area around the injury. Kilgore does about 90 minutes of work with her physical therapist each day, then does an additional three hours of work on her own. Because of her hard work, Kilgore can now recover in the comfort of her own home.

Paul Heglar, her track coach at Reno High School who has been with Kilgore throughout the ordeal, said the physical therapy is currently focused on strengthening her legs, specifically the hamstrings. Kilgore lost a lot of weight initially after the accident, but has put back on nine pounds in the past few weeks.

They are working with her everyday in the walker and working on her holding her own weight, Heglar said. They are trying to regain muscle.

Kilgores goal is to pole vault again, but for the immediate future her focus is on therapy, in the hopes of re-enrolling in college next fall or the following spring.