Ethics in transfusion medicine: Are the intricate layers of ethics all universal? A global view

Abstract

Ethical principles have been considered, and in several respects regulated, along the entire blood procurement chain from donor motivation to transfusion to the patient. Consent of donors and voluntary non-remunerated donation are fields which have been addressed by codes of ethics and legislation. Caring for donor health is an area of further development of ethical standards. In part, blood products have also become a market, where commercial principles may synergize, but also creating issues in equality and maintaining human dignity that challenge societal solutions. At the bedside, the main global challenge remains to procure enough blood products for each patient in medical need. Allocation of rare blood, ethical evaluation of transfusion triggers, attitudes towards refusing blood transfusion and provision of blood products to remote settings are areas which should receive consideration.

Keywords: Blood component recipient; Blood components; Blood donation; Blood donors; Ethics; Plasma derivative medicinal products; Transfusion medicine.