Umbilical Cord Blood Remains a Conservative Favorite

Conservatives, particularly those of the pro-life type, continue to support funding for research and the use of umbilical cord blood in medical treatments.

They correctly point out the numerous advantages of cord blood and the great potential it has shown in the treatment of scores of diseases. However, their appreciation of cord blood is not related merely to its efficacy.

Cord blood is getting support from pro-life corners as an alternative to other means of stem cell acquisition. Specifically, if they can position umbilical cord blood stem cells as a feasible alternative to fetal stem cells, they can dismantle the primary justification for the more controversial version of stem cell research. That also allows them an opportunity to discourage science to investigate using methods the pro-lifers may deem unethical or immoral.

A recent Baptist Press piece contained rhetoric commonplace in conservative publications when discussing stem cell research:

"Unlike research using embryos, extracting stem cells from non-embryonic sources -– such as umbilical cord blood, placentas, fat and bone marrow -– has nearly universal support. Such research has produced treatments for at least 72 ailments, according to Do No Harm, a coalition promoting ethics in research. These include spinal cord injuries, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis and sickle cell anemia."

The science-related observations are correct. The ethical debate, however, I'll leave to others.