SPONSOR:

Sen. Hall-Long

Sens. Blevins, Henry, Hocker, Venables;

Reps. Baumbach, Heffernan, Hudson, Outten, Wilson

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

147th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 24

SUPPORTING THE PARENTS’ GUIDE TO CORD BLOOD FOUNDATION EFFORT TO EDUCATE PREGNANT WOMEN ON THEIR OPTIONS REGARDING UMBILICAL CORD BLOOD BANKING.

WHEREAS, umbilical cord blood contains stem cells which may be frozen for later use in medical therapies, such as stem cell transplantation or regenerative medicine; and

WHEREAS, there are currently over 80 diseases that can be treated and potentially cured via cord-blood transplantation – these include malignancies such as leukemia and lymphoma, blood disorders such as sickle cell anemia and thalassemia, immune system deficiencies, metabolic disorders, and other diseases; and

WHEREAS, approximately 70% of patients who need a transplant of blood-forming stem cells do not have a matching donor in their own family, and their physician must search public registries of donors; and

WHEREAS, patients of minority or mixed heritage are particularly reliant on cord blood donation, because cord blood cells do not have to be matched as closely to the patient as cells from an adult bone marrow donor; and

WHEREAS, cord blood is collected from less than 5% of births in the United States; and

WHEREAS, most cord blood donation programs require the mother to sign up between the 28th and 34th week of pregnancy; and

WHEREAS, expectant parents may choose to donate their child’s cord blood to a public bank for use by transplant patients, releasing all rights to it, or may contract with a private bank to store their child’s cord blood; and

WHEREAS, The Institute of Medicine’s 2005 report, Cord Blood: Establishing a National Hematopoietic Stem Cell Bank Program, recommended that cord blood donors be provided with clear information on their options for cord blood banking, that informed consent be obtained prior to labor and delivery, and that donors should understand the limits of their rights; and

WHEREAS, cord blood collection does not cause harm or pain to either the mother or the baby.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Senate of the 147th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that members of the Delaware General Assembly support the provision of educational materials to pregnant women who may want to publicly donate or privately bank their baby’s umbilical cord blood and encourage the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services and the state’s health care providers to educate pregnant women on their cord blood banking options.