Chinese Doctors Want Cord Blood Rules

A report at China.org indicates that Chinese physicians are calling for the development of rules to govern the storage and donation of umbilical cord blood. Apparently, only 2% of Chinese new births resulted in donated cord blood and doctors would like to see those figures increase.

The article emphasizes the therapeutic value of umbilical cord blood for patients suffering from Leukemia. Over 40,000 Chinese are diagnosed with Leukemia annually and the medical establishment there relishes the opportunity to provide improved treatment with cord blood.

Excerpt:

"Currently, hospitals don't ask new mothers whether they want to keep, donate or throw away the umbilical cord blood, officials told a science forum on cord blood technology in Shanghai yesterday.

"Twenty-nine states in the United States are making or have made rules on the issue. For instance, doctors in Arizona must ask parents' plans for umbilical cord blood starting this year," said Zheng Bin, an official from Shanghai Cord Blood Bank. "It is a very meaningful method to promote the awareness of cord blood use."

The full article is available here.