Question Summary:
Is the storage of stem cells or cord blood from a newborn at birth permissable in Islam?

Question Detail:

Is the storage of stem cells or cord blood from a newborn at birth permissable in Islam?

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykumwa-rahmatullāhiwa-barakātuh.
We have consulted with Doctor Hoosen Paruk, a senior neurologist and specialist surgeon of South Africa, regarding cord blood preservation. Hereunder is a summary of the honourable doctor’s research:
Stem cells are biological cells which have the ability to divide and differentiate into specialized tissue. In the developing embryo, stem cells will lead to the formation of different organs whereas in the adult they would serve repair and replenishment functions. Due to the obvious ethical concerns, there is currently a moratorium on embryonic stem cell research and no medical indication for treatment with embryonic stem cells. The number of stem cells in adults is limited and found mostly in the bone marrow. When harvested these can be transplanted into patients who are genetically compatible to treat certain disorders of the blood such as blood cancer. This has been established for many years now and there are international bone marrow registries which facilitate such transplants.
 
Thus the discovery of stem cells in cord blood also generated much optimism for use in future treatments. The collection of cord blood is a relatively simple procedure that is undertaken at the time of birth. In most situations, this should not pose any risk to the mother or baby. A health professional should be aware of the circumstances when it is unsafe to do so. 
 
Currently there are two types of cord blood banks, public and private. Public banks rely on voluntary altruistic donation of cord blood and the product then becomes the property of the public bank. If sufficient sample is obtained, the bank may use the cells to assist any other individual who is genetically compatible. If the donated units do not contain sufficient cells they may be discarded, used for research purposes or be used to derive other blood products and thus still have some beneficial use.[1]
It is clear from the above explanation by the doctor that Cord blood preservation is a relatively new area of research much debated among academic circles. Therefore, we cannot issue a specific ruling on cord blood preservation until all the research findings and medical facts have been presented before the Ulama.
Ismail Desai,
Darul Iftaa
Durban, South Africa
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.