title: Development of stem cells from umbilical cord blood and blood banking: "non-controversial" and "free of political and ethical debate"?
abstract: Opponents of human embryo research have understandably welcomed pluripotent stem cells being derived from body cells including cells from umbilical cords after childbirth. The cord would otherwise be discarded and embryos are not destroyed. However, there are other ethical, legal and political issues in cord blood collection, whether for the child's future use, or a public blood bank. Information and consent procedures may be misleading. Some parents have false hopes about potential outcomes. The right of access to stored blood and other benefits is sometimes uncertain for children and their families. Private stem cell repositories may compete with public ones. People may want to impose conditions on donation. Quality control may be an issue.
authors.affiliation: Melbourne Law School, University of Melbourne, Carlton, Vic, Australia. l.skene@unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: Loane
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Skene
mesh_terms: D001771:Blood Banks / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005312:Fetal Blood; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D010067:Ownership / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells; D017149:Private Sector; D017150:Public Sector; D011786:Quality Control; D057905:Stem Cell Research