Eurocord position on ethical and legal issues involved in cord blood transplantation.

The Eurocord group held a round table discussion on the topic of ethical and legal issues involved in cord blood transplantation at the group's 2nd annual meeting at Annecy in May 1997. As chairman of the session the author was commissioned to put in writing the group's consensus on the subject. This covers the topics of: cord blood collections for autologous and intra-familiar usage; procreation for the purpose of haematopoietic progenitor cell donation for transplantation of a family member; cord blood banking including safety requirements and quality control regulations; patient priorities for usage of stored units; and patent rights. This paper's text was submitted for review to other participating members of the group. No amendments were made. The author feels confident that the paper faithfully reflects the consensus achieved.