Rep. Bob Stump

Law aids stem cell research
What the new law does: Requires health care providers to inform expecting mothers about donation options regarding umbilical cord blood stem cells. The Department of Health Services will produce informational pamphlets to aid in notification.
A new law, which takes effect on Jan. 1, will require medical professionals to notify pregnant women about their ability to bank, donate or discard stem-cell-rich blood left inside umbilical cords and placentas after birth.
The change comes from a bill, H2286 (Chapter 329), which passed 59-1 in the House, 23-0 in the Senate and which was signed by Governor Napolitano on June 21.
“We need to encourage research that is free of ethical conundrums,” said Rep. Bob Stump, R-9, the bill’s sponsor. “We’re not destroying embryos to extract these (umbilical cord) stem cells.”
H2286 mandates that patients in their second trimesters of pregnancy be made aware of their options verbally, in writing or with an informational pamphlet that is to be authored, printed and distributed by the Department of Health Services at an estimated cost of $30,000 to $35,000.
The freely distributed pamphlet will include information about the risks and costs involved in cord blood donation, as well as a description of the collection process.
The publication’s cost will be absorbed by the state’s general fund.
“I’m glad it passed and pleased that it did so without any hitch,” Mr. Stump added.
“I figured it would be a good idea to at least inform expecting mothers about the opportunity to donate their baby’s umbilical cord blood for use in treating a host of ailments or for use in stem cell research.”
Stem cells are found in bone marrow, umbilical cord blood and in peripheral blood that circulates through the body.
The cells are used primarily in transplants that regenerate the blood and immune systems of cancer patients who have been treated with chemotherapy or radiation.
Researchers have recently differentiated cord blood stem cells, transforming them into other types of cells and paving the way for a time when stem cells may be used to treat heart disease, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s
Mr. Stump said he wrote the bill to keep Arizona in step with a growing number of states that had already drafted legislation to increase awareness of cord blood donation.
These states include California, New Mexico, Wisconsin, Illinois, Georgia and Virginia.
Bills similar to H2286 are also currently pending in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Ohio.