...Conference, Montreal June 4-7, 2006 (poster presentation).

Background

As reported previously, the potential utility of umbilical cord blood [UCB] as source of stem cells for use in the treatment of disease has led to the emergence of several public and private cord blood banks across Canada. (2) In a preliminary discussion paper, the process of informed consent for the donation, collection, processing, storage and future use of UCB was identified as a key area of concern. (3) In the context of private, for-profit UCB banking, the issues are particularly vexing. (4)

Informed consent was the focus at a first multi-stakeholder workshop on umbilical cord blood hosted by the Centre de recherche en droit public at the University of Montreal in August 2005 and discussed in greater detail at a second multi-stakeholder workshop hosted by the Health Law Institute at the University of Alberta in Edmonton in June 2006.

The purpose of this short paper is to identify the key similarities and differences between private and public UCB banks and to further elaborate on the informed consent and contractual challenges that arise in light of these similarities and differences.

In Canada and in other countries, there is a discernable trend towards the collection and storage of UCB for use as a medical treatment of a variety of malignant and non-malignant diseases including leukemia, serious blood disorders, and immune and genetic disorders. (5) Parents may opt to store UCB in a private bank for potential future use by family members or they may opt to store UCB in a public bank where the UCB is made available to anyone who may need it for medical treatment.

At present, more than a dozen cord blood banks exist in Canada (see Table 1), most in the Toronto area. The rapid emergence of private banks in Canada parallels their emergence in the United States and elsewhere. (6)

Table 1: Inventory of Cord Blood Banks in Canada (7) Private UCB Banks in Canada Public UCB Banks in Canada Baby Chord Alberta Cord Blood Bank WEBSITE: www.babychord.com WEBSITE: www.acbb.ca LOCATION: Mississauga, ON LOCATION: Edmonton, AB AFFILIATION: Canadian Cord Blood Registry Canadian Cord Blood Registry Hema Quebec WEBSITE: www.ccbr.ca WEBSITE: LOCATION: Edmonton, AB www.hema-quebec.qc.ca AFFILIATION: Alberta Cord Blood Bank LOCATION: Montreal, PQ Cells for Life WEBSITE: www.cellsforlife.com LOCATION: Markham, ON. AFFILIATION: Victoria Angel Registry of Hope is the philanthropic arm of Cells for Life Cord Blood Bank of Canada WEBSITE: www.cordbloodbankofcanada.com LOCATION: Markham, ON CReATe Cord Blood WEBSITE: www.createcordbank.com LOCATION: Toronto, ON Healthchord Cryogenics WEBSITE: www.healthcord.com LOCATION: Vancouver, BC Hema Stem Therapeutics WEBSITE: www.hemastem.com LOCATION: Hamilton, ON Insception Biosciences WEBSITE: www.insception.com LOCATION: Mississauga, ON Lifebank WEBSITE: www.lifebank.com LOCATION: Burnaby, BC. Progenics WEBSITE: www.progenicscryobank.com LOCATION: Toronto, ON Stem Sciences Inc. WEBSITE: www.stemsciences.com LOCATION: Toronto, ON

Several general concerns have been raised about UCB banks including:

* the lack of adequate regulatory oversight of UCB banks (both public and private) in Canada; (8)

* the overly optimistic nature of information provided to parents...

NOTE: All illustrations and photos have been removed from this article.



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