Cord Blood Controversy--Part II
Posted on Mon, May 21, 2012
In most ways, cord blood stem cell storage is non-controversial. The world's major religions all support the use of umbilical cord stem cells and the world's medical community speaks with one voice in noting that cord blood stem cell treatments have the proven ability to improve our health.
In a perfect world, every cord blood sample would be stored for future use. However, we do not live in a perfect world. Cord blood storage is not inexpensive. Most parents have to decide if cord blood storage is worth the cost. Interested parents have to compare cord blood companies.
For this reason, there is a cord blood controversy surrounding how future parents are approached with information on cord blood stem cell storage. Private cord blood storage companies are regularly criticized for creating a sense of guilt among future parents as a sales tactic. This is a fair criticism. Parents, by definition, sacrifice for their children regularly, and most will do almost anything to protect their offspring. Therefore, advertisements that play on the fear of a child becoming ill or celebrate the bonds between parent and child can easily cross the line into poor taste and exploitation. The boundary between good information about cord blood stem cell storage and emotional blackmail about storing your newborn's cord blood is sometimes quite fine.
Enthusiastic supporters of cord blood stem cell storage sometimes allow recommendations and advice to go over-the-top; they make future parents feel guilty if they decide against storing their newborn's cord blood. This kind of emotional salesmanship is simply not acceptable. Parents need honest information, free of excessive salesmanship, so that an informed decision can be made.
Yet, if we once again take up the thought of a "perfect world", where money is not an issue, and therefore everyone is in favor of cord blood stem cell storage, one can see why cord blood enthusiasts can sometimes over play their hand. They believe that a family is best protected by storing their newborn's cord blood stem cells.
As you begin to review information about cord blood stem cell storage, make certain that you look at objective information, speak to supportive staff that answer your questions without sales pressure, and ask your healthcare provider to offer an opinion as well. It is relatively easy to become a cord blood stem cell expert. With good information, no amount of salesmanship will make you feel guilty or uncertain about your decision...Cord blood controversy solved!
