Press Release - Monday, June 05, 2006
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Governor Blagojevich signs law to raise awareness about benefits of umbilical cord blood donations
SPRINGFIELD - Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today signed legislation to educate people about the benefits, costs, and uses associated with umbilical cord blood collection. Cord blood stem cells, found in a baby's umbilical cord blood, can be used to treat a variety of serious illnesses, including leukemias, lymphomas, and immune deficiencies like sickle cell anemia. House Bill 5245, sponsored by state Representative Rich Brauer (R-Springfield) and state Senator William Haine (D-Alton), requires the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to prepare and distribute to health and maternal care providers written publications that provide details about umbilical cord blood donations.
"Each year, thousands of people are diagnosed with life-threatening diseases. And while the umbilical cord is normally thrown away after a child is born, it could give hope to someone suffering from leukemia, anemia, or another serious disease. I'm proud to sign a law that will help more people understand and take advantage of umbilical cord blood donation," said Gov. Blagojevich.
HB 5245 will further efforts to educate residents of Illinois regarding cord blood donation by requiring IDPH to make the maximum use of umbilical cord blood donations a public health goal. Instead of being treated as medical waste, umbilical cord blood can be stored after a baby's birth, either for future use by the child or a biological family member. The blood could also be donated to the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) to be screened for a match for a person in need of the stem cells. The NMDP operates a network of public and non-profit banks and provides a registry and database search for those in need of cord blood.
"The possibilities of how cord blood donations can help are endless. Seriously ill patients, whose bodies cannot make healthy cells of their own, can be helped by a donation of healthy blood cells from a matched donor or cord blood unit," said Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Eric E. Whitaker. "The umbilical cord contains large numbers of blood forming cells that can develop into red blood cells to carry oxygen, white blood cells to fight infections, and platelets which help stop bleeding."
"Research suggests that stem cells from cord blood may help persons suffering from leukemia, anemia, or other immune deficiencies," said Rep. Brauer. "This new law is needed to raise awareness about the benefits of cord blood and to boost umbilical cord donations in an effort to save lives."
IDPH will prepare and distribute to health and maternal care providers written publications that include information such as how cord blood is collected, the availability of cord blood in Illinois, and the costs, benefits, and risks of donating cord blood. These publications will be updated every two years.
"With advances in medical technology, we now know that it is possible that breakthroughs involving stem cells could cure cancers of all kinds, in addition to other neurological diseases. One way to get these stem cells is through umbilical cord blood. This option is much better than other options for attaining stem cells for scientific purposes, and this bill will allow Illinois to go to the forefront of scientific achievement without wading into the shaky ethical ground that could come with these advances," said Sen. Haine.
The bill is effective immediately.
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