Blood and Tissue Resources

New York State Council on Human Blood and Transfusion Services

Recommendations for Consent for Transfusion

Guidelines (PDF file size: 40k)

It is recommended that for non-emergency transfusions: a) the physician discuss with the patient the risks, benefits, and available alternatives (e.g., no transfusion, hematinics, intra-operative blood recovery) as clinically appropriate; b) the discussion be entered in the clinical record (as a consent form, part of a consent form, or a physician’s note) and this entry indicate that permission was (or was not) given; c) once such permission is given it may obtain for that hospitalization or intended duration of treatment, per hospital policy; d) in the case of chronic transfusion therapy, the entry specify whether consent was given for such chronic therapy, per hospital policy; and e) whenever possible or medically appropriate, the physician advise the patient of the option of pre-depositing his/her blood for use during his/her planned surgical procedure.

It is suggested that each blood bank director discuss the subject of transfusion consent with the hospital’s Transfusion Committee.