In a recent decision (Ra 2015/11/0113), the Austrian
Supreme Administrative Court (VwGH) inter alia
addressed the question whether the application of stem cell therapy
violates Section 49 of the Austrian Act on the Medical
Profession (Ärztegesetz, ÄrzteG), which requires
physicians to treat patients "... in accordance with state of
the art medical science and practice" and to at all times act
in the best interest of the patients.
The question arose in the context of (administrative) criminal
proceedings against a doctor. The authority had claimed that the
application of stem cell therapies for which no clinical trials had
been conducted on a number of patients meant the use of an
experimental medical therapy as part of regular clinical
operations. The authority argued that the therapy lacked sufficient
analysis of potential indications and contraindications and that
there was no scientific basis on potential effects and side
effects. There was also no scientific basis for the age bracket of
patients on which the therapies could be applied.
Medical treatment may go beyond established
science
In his counterarguments, the doctor focused on the fact that the
authority did not establish a threat to a specific patient in any
of the cases. While the treatments went beyond state of the art
medical science, the limitations set forth by Section 49
ÄrzteG did not mean that only therapies for which clinical
trials have been successfully conducted may be applied. The
overriding principle was the obligation to always act in the
patients' best interest. This means that a physician enjoys
therapeutic freedom, subject to the circumstances of the specific
case and the overriding goal to improve a patient's condition
and do no harm. The stem cell therapies constituted (permissible)
"individualised trials" (Heilversuche).
The patients concerned had exhausted all conventional therapy
options and – in line with the case law of the German Supreme
Court (BGH) – the individualised treatment of a
patient without scientifically proven benefit is acceptable if no
other therapy is available.
In its decision, the VwGH first made clear that the applicable
Austrian regulations do not contain an absolute prohibition of stem
cell therapy. It further determined what would constitute an
"individualised trial", namely departing from state of
the art medical science in a specific case (rather than as part of
a clinical research series) either because there is no medical
standard or because the available medical standards are of no
use.
Patients also must receive clear and sufficient information
about the novelty of the treatment and that the potential treatment
may objectively be expected to offer a realistic and justifiable
improvement of the patient's condition. Finally, the VwGH ruled
that the mere fact that a novel therapy was applied to more than
only a small number of patients did not mean that it could not
still constitute an "individualised trial". To make such
a determination would require individual analysis of each
patient's case, something the authority had not done.
In summary, the VwGH thus gave the following practically relevant
guidance:
- It is permissible for a doctor and in accordance with
Section 49 ÄrzteG to apply therapies which go beyond
state of the art medical science.
- Each individual treatment requires a cost/benefit analysis. A
doctor remains in compliance with Section 49 ÄrzteG if a
treatment (i) objectively is in the individual patient's
best interests and does not put the individual patient at risk, and
(ii) no other (conventional) therapy is available.
- It must be made crystal clear to the patient that the therapy
has reached the limits of conventional treatment and what the
potential risks are. The doctor must be sure that the patient
understands the risks and consequences.
- The mere fact that a novel therapy is applied to more than only a very small number of patients does not automatically mean it cannot still constitute an "individualised trial".
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