Biocord to the Knesset's health committee: the issue of cord blood collection must be enshrined in law

Biocord asks the Knesset to enshrine in law the duty of doctors to inform families of the possibility of registering for the cord blood collection service. "Enshrining this important issue in legislation will serve a large public of maternity patients who are unaware of their ability to collect umbilical cord blood in order to save lives," says the company

The Biocord company calls on the Knesset to enshrine in law the duty of doctors to inform families of the possibility of registering for the cord blood collection service. In Biocord's appeal to MK Moshe Sharoni, chairman of the Knesset's health committee, the company says that enshrining this important issue in legislation will serve a large public of obstetricians who are unaware of their ability to collect cord blood to save lives.

In its application, Biocord Co., which serves as a bank for the preservation of stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood, asks to compare the situation in Israel with the policy taken abroad. "Insurance companies abroad instruct the doctors to provide the patient's family with information about the various options regarding the umbilical cord blood and to document the issue in writing, in the patient's personal file, otherwise - the professional liability policy will not cover them."

According to Miki Shaham, CEO of Biocord, in some states of the United States legislation has begun to regulate the field and in some of its states gynecologists are now obliged to inform the family about the possibility of preserving the umbilical cord blood. "The legislation began due to negligence claims that were filed against doctors who did not inform the families and over time, the family's medical need for a donation increased and it was not available."

The stem cells, which are capable of producing any of the many types of cells found in the human body, are taken from the baby at birth and can save his life and the lives of his family members. The extensive research in the field breaks new ground. New discoveries and treatments are often published. Around the world, thousands of umbilical cord stem cell transplants have been performed so far as a treatment for malignant diseases and cancerous tumors and even for non-malignant diseases.

"The interest of the medical community in Israel in umbilical cord blood as a source of stem cells for transplants has risen dramatically in recent years," says Shaham. "Since the first transplantation of umbilical cord stem cells, the use of this source as a substitute for bone marrow donations has increased, this is due to the fact that umbilical cord stem cells are of much higher quality than bone marrow cells." There are currently two public cord blood banks operating in Israel - one of MDA and the other of Tel Hashomer Hospital and four private banks. 

"The procedure for choosing and the way to collect cord blood (whether in a private bank or in a public bank) should, naturally, be the sole responsibility of the mother and her family, but it is mandatory that the responsibility be accompanied by knowing all the considerations for and against this or that choice," says Shaham.