Stem cell bank asked to pay Rs 20L as compensation for failing to collect stem cells of baby

The country's apex consumer commission NCDRC has directed a stem cell bank to pay Rs 20 lakh as compensation to a Chennai-based doctor for having failed to collect his newborn baby's stem cells despite registration.

Dr Rajesh Jhorawat filed a complaint against Life Cell International Private Limited, which claims to be India's first and largest stem cell bank, with the NCDRC after the bank failed to send a doctor on time for collecting his newborn's stem cells.

Stem cells are preserved and are used in treatment of several diseases such as thalassemia, leukaemia, lymphoma, auto-immune disorders, and several other malignancies and genetic blood disorders.

The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) observed that stem cells were not collected soon after the birth of the child, which could have proven to be of vital use in case of any illnesses in future.

"Since the sample was not collected in time and the stem cell could not be preserved, the opposite party, in my opinion, should pay a compensation amounting to Rs 20 lakh to the complainant," the NCDRC Presiding member V K Jain said.

The commission observed that Jhorawat lost a lifetime opportunity to preserve stem cells of his child.

"Had the samples been taken in time, it would have been possible to preserve the stem cells of the child and if he, his parents or his sibling, if any, was to need them in future, for the purpose of stem cell transplant, the stem cell so preserved and stored could have helped in saving the life of the child or his biological parents or his siblings.

"If anyone of them requires stem cell in future, the suitable stem cell may not be available with a private stem cell bank and even if they are available, the said bank may demand charges, which may be beyond the financial capacity of the complainant to pay," said the commission.