Question

The newest trend in personal health is the banking of umbilical cord blood to preserve a baby’s stem cells. Parents are banking the blood in case their children later develop a disease that can be treated with stem cells. Which statements represent ethical issues that might be associated with banking this blood in private banks instead of public? Check all that apply.

Answer 1

Blood is unavailable for public use in an emergency.

Ownership of the blood may be taken out of the hands of the parents through complex consent forms.

Laws governing private blood banks are inconsistent.

The chances that an individual will need the stored blood are low, but the chances that the blood will match someone else in need are high.

Private banks may be profiting on parents’ emotions at the time of a baby’s birth.