Advantages and Disadvantages for Storing Umbilical Cord Blood - Research Paper Example

 Weighing the Advantages and Disadvantages A Discussion on Umbilical Cord blood Storage Introduction We live in a world where science and technology tend to change monthly; improving, innovating, and advancing, sometimes faster than anyone can keep up with. In the field of medicine the advances we enjoy today would, likely, have seemed like science fiction a quarter of a century ago. One of the most noted advances involves the use of stem cells to heal damaged tissues and cure diseases. However, stem cell research, regardless, of their potential medicinal applications has still become quite controversial. This has less to do with stem cells themselves but more from where they are ideally extracted. Often, the largest source of stem cells can be found in the remains of aborted fetuses, it is this fact of the issue that has tainted peoples perspectives of stem cell research and therapies as a whole. However, there are other locations to acquire stem cells; one such location is in the umbilical cord blood of a newly born baby. The option is now available to store this cord blood, ideally, to be used should your child acquire or develop a serious condition or illness. For many the need for “peace of mind” and the precautionary stand is encouraging parents to option to store their infants cord blood. Is it better to be safe than sorry? The answer is, yes. It would be far worse to have your child become ill and regret that you did not take the action and know that they might have benefitted from stem cell interventions. Background In order to understand the issue better it is necessary to explore exactly \what the cord blood consists of what is the significance of stem cell therapies, and how that are extracted. The umbilical cord is rich in hemopoietic progenitor and stem cells.(Wall, 2011) These cells, in simplest terms, adaptable cells; the building blocks of all the cells within the body. A stem cell can transform itself into whatever cells it is exposed to within the body. Umbilical cord blood, normally discarded after a child is delivered, contains a supply of these cells. It is believed that these cells can be transfused when needed and they would repair damage, alleviate conditions, and cure diseases. Such therapies exist for leukemia, lymphomas, hemoglobinpathies, and immunodeficiency’s, as well as, the potential to aid in the treatment of, dozens of other disease including the damage caused by heart disease and cerebral palsy.(Besser, Schwartz, Romo & Salahi, 2010) Therefore those potential applications are attracting a lot of attention from the medical community; however, it, also, is at the center of a great deal of controversy. Presently the option to store these cells is available to parents as a precaution, just n case, their child were to become sick; or parents may donate the cord blood publically to aid unknown recipients who may be in need.(Abdullah, 2011) This controversy focuses more on the extraction methods gained from aborted fetuses. The ethical issues, for that reason, the controversy has created a reluctant attitude to any form of stem cell therapies; including those, like harvesting umbilical cord blood, that has shown immediate life-saving results. Research into the potential applications of stem cells has been considered for more than half a decade. But, the ethical, legal, and controversial concerns have, in fact, stunted its progression. Umbilical cord blood is extracted by clamping the umbilical cord immediately following the baby’s birth in order to promise that they capture of the largest amount, approximately 40-200mL, of the precious UCB.(Hull , 2011) Then the cells can be stored until they are potentially needed. There is, also, controversy revolving around the options of how the UBC can be stored. Parents can either opt for a private or public bank. Private banks are costly but the stem cells will remain untouched until you, your child, or other related family member that may benefit; public banks are generally free, but like organ donation, you have no control over who receives the lifesaving gifts contained in the cord blood. Discussion Advantages The medical advantages to using one’s own cord blood guarantees that, firstly, less physical rejection and they may be able to cure illness and, essentially, save lives; more so, possibly, the lives of children and that is a worthwhile advantage in many people’s eyes. Private storage guarantees that those cells will be there when they might need them and the private storage facilities, also, keep the UBC for up to 70 years, which is beneficial if your offspring becomes afflicted with a condition or disease well into their adulthood.(Aleccia, 2008) Public storage has its advantages, as well. When one donates their cord blood to a public facility they are giving a gift to a stranger who may not otherwise find the match that they need. They explain that finding donors from public storage allows for a, sometimes, 95% guarantees of a potential matches, which will change and save lives.(Abdullah, 2011) By promoting the storage of UBC you are essentially guaranteeing that the science and therapies will be improved, advanced, and will surpass today’s knowledge and allow those therapies to excel into the future, and become a trusted inclusion in how medicine is practiced; it may even lead to less invasive and less chemical approaches to treating health issues. The best way to understand the life altering and saving attributes is to acknowledge instances when the therapies have been implemented. A 10-year-old boy name Spencer was diagnosed with type 1 Diabetes and a serious thyroid condition. Very quickly his need increased to multiple types of insulins and six injections a day. In 2007, Spencer received a transfusion from his own stored umbilical cord blood, ultimately, his thyroid condition was cured and his insulin need reduced to a single type and single daily injection.(Aleccia, 2008) Another child, an infant named Harlow, was born with a large mass blocking her kidneys and threatening her life. The doctors discovered that she suffered from an unknown form of cancer and, although, chemotherapy eliminated the mass, the form of cancer was very aggressive and a transplant from her own cord blood was recommended. Harlow’s UCB transfusion was successful and this resulted in being cancer free, alive, and healthy today.(Revelent, 2012) These are the instances when it becomes astonishingly clear that the advantages are vast and are reflected in the eyes of those these therapies have saved. Disadvantages While stem cell therapies as a whole remain continually controversial, cord blood storing itself has a few distinct disadvantages that stand out and spawn some ethical issues of its own. The process by which UBC is obtained involves clamping of the cord after birth, however, this process could lead to a condition called phlebotomization, which involves the possibility of a back-wash of blood to the infant that can be a danger to the infant. Opposition to UBC storage claim that is poor thinking to, potentially, place a healthy child in danger to extract something they may never need. Some research has concluded that the likelihood of using the UBC stored is, approximately, 1 in 2700, other researchers claim that number may be even higher.(Hull , 2011) This leads to the controversial element involving how the UBC is stored. Expecting parents are being bombarded with literature encouraging them to store their UCB after delivery. The Private banks are very expensive, averaging $2,000-$3,000 for the initial storage and an average of $85-$125 per month to maintain it.(Besser, Schwartz, Romo & Salahi, 2010) Many feel that that this can create an inequality in the value of life. Essentially meaning, that if only the wealthy can afford to store the UCB then some children might be saved, while another will not, and the reason would be based on income, and this is perceived as tremendously unethical.(Petrini, 2010) Also, the private banks use, what amounts to, scare tactics and overwhelm parents with all the diseases and conditions that could possibly afflict their child in the future, often, negating to mention how rare the likelihood of that happening actually is. Even public banks will resort to guilt tactics in order to enlist donations. If you are not going to store it privately then you should feel compelled to donate it freely; to do otherwise is selfish, wasteful, and noncontributory to society. (Petrini, 2010) Issues and Solutions No one is suggesting that there are not flaws in the system, nor is anyone supporting scare tactics in the marketing of private banks. However, parents do need to be aware of all of their options, even if it involves a health concern that your child may never experience. The parents should have the right to take that precautionary action if they so choose, without being made worried or guilty, regardless of the choice that they decide to make. All of the issues concerning cord blood storage are, in fact, rectifiable. Efforts are already being taken to alter the clamping process used to obtain the umbilical cord blood and the precious stem cells inside. Again, science and technology evolves constantly, the more the common the practice becomes the greater time will be spent to improve, develop, and perfect the process. This too, applies to cost of private storage, as well. As the cord blood storage industry increases; they will eventually become more competitive and the cost will drop, becoming much more reasonable, hence more practical to a larger portion of the population, if they so choose. Public banks will, also, change, there are only a few today but in the future the opportunity will be present for those who wish to donate the cord blood publically. Ultimately it is rather a personal decision. It may be true that the statistical likelihood of using that cord blood stored in a private bank is rather small, but should your child become ill then you may, possibly, have saved their lives by choosing to store that UCB. Some researchers are referring to as, “…a kind of biological insurance for your child's future.”(Besser, Schwartz, Romo & Salahi, 2010) What is good for some may not be ideal for others, whether you choose public or private storage. The whole of stem cell research is a topic of unending, heated debate, and will, likely, continue to be for some time. However, the specific issue of cord blood storage should not be stigmatized, disregarded, or abandoned because it falls under the umbrella of stem cell research. Cord blood storage, whether for use by your child, family member ,or donated to a stranger should be commended as positive forethought for your offspring or as a compassionate act shared with the public. However, it is absolutely imperative that all are educated on the issue if you are considering this decision. Being informed will make people less easily misled by marketing approaches and scare tactics, as well as, being able to make the best possible choice, if any, for themselves. Conclusions In the end, the saving and storing of cord blood is safe, secure, and a not illogical precautionary act. It is true, you, nor your child, or anyone else in your family may ever need them. The research community has already proven that science has practical and statistical positive results when it is implemented. But “piece of mind” for mind, for many, is priceless; when it comes to protecting those we love, particularly children, then it becomes wholly and completely worthwhile. Ultimately storing the cord blood is more advantage than disadvantage; the potential positives far outweigh the conceivable negatives. In this particular topic it is, by and large, far better to be safe than sorry. References Abdullah, Y. (2011). Cord blood banking: What nurses and healthcare providers should know. The American journal of Maternal/Child Nursing, 36(6), 344-350. Retrieved from http://www.nursingcenter.com/prodev/ce_article.asp?tid=1254242 Aleccia, J. (2008, July 21). Cord blood choice: Private fears vs. public good . NBC News. Retrieved from http://www.nbcnews.com/id/25723984/#.UUp65jcae2Z Besser, R., Schwartz, S., Romo, C., & Salahi, L. (2010, May 5). Private umbilical cord blood banking: Smart parenting or waste of money?. ABC World News. Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/WN/private-umbilical-cord-blood-banking-parents-spend-big/story?id=10549979 Hull , K. (2011). umbilical cord blood: Information for childbirth educators. Journal of Perinatal Educators, 20(1), Retrieved from http://www.scienceandsensibility.org/?tag=american-academy-of-pediatrics-position-on-cord-blood-banking Petrini, C. (2010). Umbilical cord blood collection, storage and use: ethical issues. Blood Transfusion, 8(3), 139-148. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2906192/ Revelent. (2012, July 4). 7 things you should know about cord blood banking read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/07/03/7-things-should-know-about-cord-blood-banking/ Wall, D. (2011). Umbilical cord blood: Importance of supporting public banks. American Family Physician, 84(6), 638. Retrieved from http://www.aafp.org/afp/2011/0915/p638.html Read More