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August 22, 2007
Ethical Issues in Blood Conservation: To Give or Not to Give
Discussant: Mark Eldredge, Bloodless Program Coordinator, Center for Blood Conservation, CUMC
Wednesday, August 22, 2007, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Center for Health Policy and Ethics Conference Room
Moderator: Amy M. Haddad, PhD, Director, Center for Health Policy and Ethics
Patients participate in a Blood Conservation Program either for religious or personal beliefs, and either choose not to take blood transfusions, even if refusal to do so would mean their death, or would prefer that a blood transfusion be used as a last resort, after everything else in the way of alternatives has failed to achieve the desired results. While this position is very clear to the patient who is being treated, often it creates conflict with family members who do not believe the same way as the patient, as well as medical staff who become confused about patient rights verses their belief to 'do no harm'. To not give a blood transfusion in a life threatening situation may violate a physician's personal, ethical, cultural, or religious convictions. One last area to consider is the treatment of minors who, because of their families’ religious beliefs, do not want a blood transfusion. Federal and state laws impose limitations on withholding blood transfusions for minors in a life-or-death situation, which may cause ethical and moral dilemmas for both parents and medical staff.