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Cord Cells a Gift, Says Doctor
The Journal
The Newcastle Chronicle & Journal
31 May 2006
Expectant mother Kathleen Scougall has backed the use of stem cells from umbilical cords.
Dr Scougall, 32, who lives in Fenham, Newcastle with her husband David Kelly and two-year-old son Tom, works at Newcastle University's medical school and used to be a diabetes researcher.
She said: "When I had my first child, I asked the midwife about donating cord blood but there wasn't the facilities for that at the time.
"But having a scientific background, I know how important these cells are.
"The material they come from is pretty much a by-product of having a baby. You don't see the cord at all.
"At the time all your focus is on your new baby, so you probably wouldn't even be that aware of the fact that the material was being taken.
"There is a huge potential from stem cells so to waste that would be terrible.
"It's not as if there's any harm or risk to the process either."
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