States Pass Cord Blood Education Bills

Banking your cord blood stem cells has the  potential to treat an ever-growing list of over 75 illnesses  and  diseases. However, many patients who require cord blood transplants are left without donors, as many parents across Canada and the United States are still unaware about the benefits of banking or donating their babies’ cord blood. To help solve this issue, Missouri and Florida have passed bills that would help to increase awareness of cord blood banking by disseminating information on the topic.

In Missouri, the law requires the Missouri Health Department to share information about cord blood banking with expecting parents. The legislation encourages doctors to inform parents about the option of banking or donating their child’s cord blood in their third trimester, when many parents decide to register with private cord blood banking facilities.

The bill met with no opposition, and was passed by a unanimous vote. Anti-abortion groups, who are against stem cell research, have even showed their support of the bill.

In Florida, the bill would not require physicians to share information about cord blood banking with parents, but instead encourages them to make information more readily available. The goal is the same, however: to increase the overall bank of stored and donated cord blood in the state. This bill is currently awaiting a vote from Senate, and is likely to experience the same success as Missouri’s legislation.