CODE OF ETHICS FOR BLOOD DONATION AND TRANSFUSION

 

I.THE DONOR

  1. Blood donation shall, in all circumstances, be voluntary; no pressure of any kind must be brought to bear upon the donor
  2. The donor should be advised of the risks connected with the procedure; the donor’s health and safety must be a constant concern.
  3. Financial profit must never be a motive either for the donor or for those responsible for collecting the donation. Voluntary non-remunerated donors should always be encouraged.
  4. Anonymity between donor and recipient must be respected except in special cases.
  5. Blood donation must not entail discrimination of any kind, either of race, nationality or religion.
  6. Blood must be collected under the responsibility of a physician.
  7. The frequency of donations and the total volume of the blood collected according to the sex and weight of the individual, as well as the upper and lower age limits for blood donation, should be defined by regulations.
  8. Suitable testing of each donor and blood donation must be performed in an attempt to detect any abnormalities;
  1. that would make the donation dangerous for the donor.
  2. that would be likely to be harmful to the recipient.

9. Donation by plasmapheresis should be the subject of special regulation that would specify:

  1. the nature of additional tests to be carried out on the donor,
  2. the maximum volume of plasma to be taken during one session,
  3. the minimum time interval between two consecutive sessions,
  4. the maximum volume of plasma to be taken in one year.

10. Donations of leukocytes or platelets by cytapheresis should be the subject of special regulations that specify:

  1. the information to be given to the donor about any drugs injected and about the risks connected with the procedure,
  2. the nature of any additional tests to be carried out on the donor,
  3. the number of sessions within a given time frame.

11. Deliberate immunization of donors by any foreign antigen with the aim of obtaining products with a specific diagnostic or therapeutic activity should be the subject of special regulations that would specify:

  1. the information to be given to the donor about the substance injected and the risks involved,
  2. the nature of any additional tests which have to be carried out on the donor.

12. The donor must be protected by adequate insurance against the risks inherent in the donation of blood, plasma or cells, as well as the risks of immunization

II. THE RECIPIENT

13. The object of transfusion is to ensure for the recipient the most efficient therapy compatible with maximum variety.

14. Before any transfusion of blood or blood products is carried out, a written request, signed by a physician or issued under his responsibility, must be made, which specifies the identity of the recipient and the nature and quantity of the substances to be administered.

15. Except for the emergency use of type O blood or red blood cells, every red cell transfusion necessitates preliminary blood grouping tests on the recipient, and compatibility tests between the donor and the recipient.

16. Before administration, blood and blood products must be checked to ensure they are correctly identified and that the expiry date has not been passed. The recipient’s identity must be verified.

17. The actual transfusion must be given under the responsibility of a physician.

18. In case of a reaction during or after the injection of blood or blood products, appropriate investigations may be required to ascertain the origin of the reaction and to prevent its recurrence. A reaction may require the interruption of the transfusion.

19. Blood and blood products must not be given unless there is a genuine therapeutic need. There must be no financial motivation on the part of either the prescriber or of the establishment where the patient is treated.

20. Whatever their financial resources, all patients must be able to benefit from the administration of human blood or blood products, subject only to their availability.

21. As far as possible the patient should receive only that particular component (cells, plasma, or plasma derivatives) that is needed. To transfuse whole blood into a patient who requires only part of it may deprive other patients of necessary components, and may carry some additional risks to the recipient.

22. Owing to the human origin of blood and to the limited quantities available, it is important to safeguard the interests of both recipient and donor by avoiding abuse or waste.

23. The optimal use of blood and blood products requires regular contact between the physicians who prescribe and those who work in blood transfusion centers.

III. CONTROLS

24. Appropriate controls should be required by the Health Authorities to verify that blood transfusion practices meet internationally accepted standards and that the guidelines or regulations issued in accordance with this code are effectively respected.

25. The following should be regularly checked:

  1. the proficiency of the staff,
  2. the adequacy of the equipment and premises,
  3. the quality of methods and reagents, source material and finished products.

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