Ethics in Blood Transfusion
Definitions
What is right/ good
Human duty/ logic of moral discourse
Examine troubling dilemmas
Ethics is a dynamic process
Making decisions
First do no harm
Respect/ Autonomy (patient’s) – wishes, dignity, privacy
Justice – treat cases alike, fairly distribute benefits, burdens
Principled approach to medical ethics
Goal of medicine
Heal, cure
Comfort, palliate
Preserve, promote health
Basic medico-ethical principles
Autonomy – dignity, integrity of human beings
Beneficence
Justice, equality
Medico-ethi cal guidelines/ Code in Transfusion medicine
International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT)
(Code of ethics for blood donation, transfusion)
Code adopted by WHO
Active participants in transfusion medicine
Guides in implementing basic princi ples
Goals for BTS (Blood Transfusion Services)
Acceptable mission of a BTS
Meet perceived needs of patient
Minimum cost
Minimum wastage
Maximum safety, effica cy
Ethical approach
Donors
Physicians
Recipients
Blood Transfusi on Form
Duty of Donor
Blood donation
Do no harm to donor’s health
No risk to health of recipient
Responsibilities
Voluntary/ No financial incentive
Made to understand – social obligations
Safety of blood supply – depend on retention of regular donors
Obligations to donors
Trained BTS staff in contact
No pressure/ discrimination
Assure/ educate donors – blood is handled, distributed with care
BTS use updated, authorized, detailed criteria for selection, deferral, exclusion
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Explained/ understood
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Informed consent
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Donor information - confidential
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Confidential matters – conveyed in private
Anonymous – donor, recipient
Plasmapheresis – handled by specifically trained personnel/ nurses
No wastage – clinician prescribing the blood
Duty of Physician
Indications
Most effective therapy with maximum safety
Transfusion practices review committee
Prescription procedure/ blood transfusion guideline
(prevent errors in reques