New Delhi | January 31, 2026 | SKY LINK TIMES
Supreme Court Bans Stem Cell Therapy for Autism:
Leading doctors across India have welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to ban the use of stem cell therapy for treating autism, calling it a much-needed step to protect patients from unscientific and unethical medical practices.
The apex court ruled that stem cell therapy for autism lacks scientific validation and cannot be used outside approved clinical trials, putting a stop to its commercial misuse by private clinics.
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Supreme Court: Therapy Lacks Scientific Evidence
A bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan observed that stem cell therapy for autism has “no scientific support” and is not recognised as a sound medical practice backed by empirical evidence.
The court categorically ruled that “every use of stem cells in patients outside an approved clinical trial is unethical and shall be considered as malpractice.”
The judges further clarified that an unproven therapy cannot be demanded by patients as a matter of right, warning against therapeutic misconceptions.
Doctors Applaud the Verdict
Senior neurologist Dr Manjari Tripathi, Head of Neurology at AIIMS Delhi, welcomed the move, calling it long overdue.
“There is no proof or evidence of the utility of stem cell therapy in autism or any neurological disorder as of now,” she told IANS.
She pointed out that several private labs have been charging families ₹6 lakh to ₹20 lakh by falsely promising improvement in conditions such as autism and cerebral palsy.
“Many families have lost money with no improvement. This is absolutely the right move by the Supreme Court,” Tripathi added.
Unregulated Clinics and Misleading Ads
The Supreme Court also highlighted that most stem cell therapies in India remain unregulated and are promoted through misleading advertisements.
“Patients may remain under therapeutic misconception and anticipate results from an unproven treatment,” the court noted, adding that continuing treatment under such misconceptions amounts to a gross violation of medical ethics.
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NMC and ICMR Back Scientific Consensus
In December 2022, the Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) under the National Medical Commission (NMC) had already stated that no international guidelines recommend stem cell therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Paediatric neurologist Dr Shefali Gulati of AIIMS cited a recent ICMR systematic review, which found no clinically meaningful benefit of stem cell therapy in ASD.
“As there is not enough evidence for clinical practice, it should be used only in a regulated clinical trial format,” Gulati said.
Research Allowed Under Strict Regulation
While banning clinical use, the Supreme Court clarified that stem cell therapy research may continue under approved and monitored clinical trials.
Patients, the court said, are free to participate in regulated research studies, ensuring ethical oversight and scientific accountability.
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