Practices of private cord blood banking are of concern

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Umbilical cord blood is known to be a rich source of stem cells. This is the reason that the medical experts all around the world are inspiring families for the umbilical cord blood donation. There are two types of banks where one can donate the cord blood. These are –private banks and public cord blood banks. Private Banks are expensive and allow the families to store cord blood and make it available when required for their child and family. On the other hand, public banks are available for general use where there is no privacy but these charge reasonable prices.

Nowadays, there are rising concerns for the companies that offer couples private storage facility. The ethics and uses of private cord blood banking have been questioned. Such private organizations promise that the cells are capable to treat the blood related disorders and those of immune system. However, there are a very few evidences that one is treated through the privately stored blood. The chances are further rare that the blood stored this way would be available after five or say ten years as said by Dr Ngaire Elwood. The people thus have to make the decision themselves.

Dr. Andrew Davidson, medical director of Stemlife has different opinion. Dr. Davidson says that using own cells ensures the best treatment of the body. Theoretically one certain type of leukemia poses a theoretical risk to have own cells. However, for many cancers and anemia in the children which are of 80 different types, it is better to use own blood instead of using someone else’s. When you compare cord blood banks, the public banks have the capacity to store about 20,000 blood units. These units are matched to the recipients and are shipped to other places in the whole world. 

Dr. Elwood says that the method in which the different donors donate the stem cells has shown the best chances for treatment by far. Any person when will require the bone marrow transplant in the future for their child and for their own then it would be easy to find the proper cord blood donor. A large number of professional groups are raising questions over the marketing of the private cord blood banking and advertising.  The target of their advertising is the parents having concern for their child’s safe and healthy future.

Another issue that has emerged is that the private companies offer money to the obstetricians to take donation from the patients. Although, many doctors refuse to take it, others donate to charity. Dr Elwood has said that till now private banks do not have any impact on the public banks but they can have in the future. The two banks do not have any competition as reasons behind umbilical cord blood banking for everyone are different. According to Dr. Elwood many people are still there who feel satisfied with the network of public banks. These public banks follow ethnic rules that are not objectionable. This is the reason that doctors these days encourage people to donate the cord blood preferably to the public banks. Private Banks are under great concern, people need to understand both facts on their own and then make a decision.