In a verdict delivered on January 30, the apex court said that stem cell ‘therapies’ for ASD cannot be offered by medical practitioners as a clinical service outside an approved and monitored clinical trial or research setting. It had said that every use of stem cells in patients outside an approved clinical trial was “unethical” and should be considered as “malpractice”. The verdict was delivered on a plea that raised concerns relating to rampant promotion, prescription and administration of stem cell ‘therapy’ for treatment of ASD by several clinics across the country. Bhati said three weeks be granted to file a comprehensive and detailed compliance report. “However, at the same time, we are also sure of our decision that stem cell therapy for ASD cannot continue as a commercial endeavour in the form of routine clinical treatment,” it had said.