Clinicians should be aware of the particular physical and psychological risks of haematopoietic stem cell donation in the paediatric setting, and the varying laws between states and territories
Allogeneic donor blood and bone marrow transplantation can treat a range of malignant and non-malignant diseases. For children with aplastic anaemia, severe combined immunodeficiency, leukaemia, sickle-cell disease, thalassaemia and inborn errors of metabolism, it may provide the only possibility of cure and long term survival. Although associated with considerable recipient mortality (5–12% transplant-related mortality at one year)1 and morbidity, advances in tissue typing, supportive care, patient selection, conditioning regimens and the prevention and treatment of graft-versus-host disease have dramatically improved outcomes, with up to 80% of recipients becoming long term survivors of bone marrow transplant.2
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- 12. Transplantation and Anatomy Act 1978 (ACT). http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/a/1978-44/current/pdf/1978-44.pdf (viewed Nov 2017).
- 13. Human Tissue Act 1983 (NSW). https://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/#/view/act/1983/164 (viewed Nov 2017).
- 14. Transplantation and Anatomy Act (NT). https://legislation.nt.gov.au/en/Legislation/TRANSPLANTATION-AND-ANATOMY-ACT (viewed Nov 2017).
- 15. Transplantation and Anatomy Act 1979 (Qld). https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-1979-074 (viewed Nov 2017).
- 16. Transplantation and Anatomy Act 1983 (SA). https://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/LZ/C/A/TRANSPLANTATION%20AND%20ANATOMY%20ACT%201983/CURRENT/1983.11.UN.PDF (viewed Nov 2017).
- 17. Human Tissue Act 1985 (Tas). https://www.legislation.tas.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-1985-118 (viewed Nov 2017).
- 18. Human Tissue Act 1982 (Vic). http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/Domino/Web_Notes/LDMS/LTObject_Store/LTObjSt9.nsf/DDE300B846EED9C7CA257616000A3571/8F3302C40B5C1396CA257D810080D5D9/$FILE/82-9860aa044%20authorised.pdf (viewed Nov 2017).
- 19. Human Tissue and Transplant Act 1982 (WA). https://www.slp.wa.gov.au/pco/prod/filestore.nsf/FileURL/mrdoc_32096.pdf/$FILE/Human%20Tissue%20And%20Transplant%20Act%201982%20-%20%5B03-a0-00%5D.pdf?OpenElement (viewed Nov 2017).
- 20. Gillick v West Norfolk and Wisbech Area Health Authority [1986] AC 112. http://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKHL/1985/7.html (viewed Nov 2017).
- 21. National Health and Medical Research Council. Organ and tissue donation by living donors – guidelines for ethical practice for health professionals. Canberra: Australian Government, 2007. https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/guidelines-publications/e71 (viewed Nov 2017).
- 22. Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy and Joint Accreditation Committee ISCT EBMT. International standards for hematopoietic cellular therapy product collection, processing and administration. 7th ed. Nebraska: FACT-JACIE, 2018. http://www.factweb.org/forms/store/ProductFormPublic/seventh-edition-fact-jacie-international-standards-for-hematopoietic-cellular-therapy-product-collection-processing-and-administration-free-download (viewed Mar 2018).
Shih-Ning Then is currently a member of the NHMRC Organ and Tissue Working Committee. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not represent the views of the Committee.