Cord Blood Banks Mislead Parents
Millions store cord blood stem cells for future use, but The New York Times investigation reveals misleading marketing by cord blood banks. Doctors now prefer adult stem cells due to advancements, facing issues with unusable samples. Ethical concerns arise from doctors receiving payments.
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Millions of parents pay thousands of dollars to store their children's cord blood stem cells for potential future medical use, believing in its promise as a cure for various diseases. However, an investigation by The New York Times reveals that cord blood banks have misled customers and doctors about the effectiveness of this technology. Despite the marketing claims, doctors now prefer using adult stem cells over cord blood due to advancements in medical treatments. Private banks have faced issues with unusable or contaminated samples, leading to rejection from clinical trials. The industry's growth has been fueled by celebrity endorsements and partnerships with medical institutions. While some success stories exist, the overall utility of privately banked cord blood remains limited, with public banks facing financial challenges. Doctors receive payments from cord blood banks for collecting samples, raising ethical concerns about conflicts of interest. The once-promising cord blood transplants have declined significantly in recent years, with medical professionals favoring other sources of stem cells for treatment.
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