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Current questions about safety & rights
Is it possible that stored stem cells from my child are used for other patients or for research?
No! When you opt for eticur) PRIVATE with the University Hospital Erlangen, we guarantee to store the cells exclusively for your child. We guarantee that these cells will neither be used for somebody else nor for research – except a sibling gets ill and you as the legal guardian or later your grown-up child gives us a written declaration that he wishes to have the cells used for this purpose.
When I opt for eticur) KOMBI with the University Hospital Erlangen, do I have to donate the cells for a foreign patient?
No! If a world-wide search for suitable stem cell donors should show a compliance with the material of your child, you (or your adult child) will be informed by the University Hospital Erlangen. You then have two weeks to decide whether you would like to donate the stem cells to a foreign patient or if you want to continue storing them for your child. When you donate the material the University Hospital Erlangen transfers the material into its public stem cell bank and organises the donation to the patient. You will then receive the storage fee (plus interest) from eticur). If you wish to continue your private storage, then the material will not be touched and continues to be stored for your child (or his siblings).You are always entitled to withdraw from the public register listing.
Who gets custody over the stem cells when the parents divorce (before the child reaches full age) or if both parents die?
The contract remains intact. The according rights and obligations are transferred to the other parent or legal guardian. When the child turns 18, he/she is entitled to decide what happens with his stored stem cells.
Can stem cells be mixed up?
In the delivery room, it may happen that material is accidently mixed up or erroneously marked, e.g. when more babies are born. In order to guarantee that it is really your child´s blood, the stem cell bank of the University Hospital Erlangen carries out an extensive check with tissue characteristics (HLA-Typification) both with maternal blood as well as the umbilical cord blood. By comparing these two samples, the identity of the umbilical cord blood can be certified without any doubt. Moreover, the cells are marked with an individual code before storage. This always guarantees a safe identification.
What happens with the stored stem cells during an electric power outage?
The stem cell material is stored in two separate tanks which are not depending on electricity. The materials are stored in the gas phase of liquid nitrogen at minus 175° Celsius. Even if there is a complete power outage (including a failure of the emergency unit), the cells are not harmed.
What happens if eticur) would get into economic difficulties?
Then the stem cells would be tested and processed by our cooperation partner, the stem cell bank of the transfusion medical and haemostaseologic department of the University Hospital Erlangen and then stored for 25 years. This service is fully paid to the University Hospital by eticur) in advance and is valid for the entire storage duration. Should eticur) get into any economic difficulties in future, then the University Hospital Erlangen will definitely continue to store the cells (irrespective of the existence of the company eticur)) and if needed the cells will be delivered to the desired hospital in a professional way. The storage in the stem cell bank of the University Hospital Erlangen guarantees that umbilical cord blood stem cells will be stored as long as you or your child wishes for, but at least 25 years. Compared to a privately operated stem cell bank, such a university institution can not get into economic difficulties. This, in our opinion is much more reliable than any "insolvency insurance"!
Can I terminate the contract anytime?
When signing, you conclude a contract in the name of your child for a period of 25 years. This contract can be terminated by the adult child or his legal guardian at any time without giving reasons. The claim for remuneration by eticur) remains intact. In such a case, there is not partial reimbursement.
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