Nod needed for blood transfusion

NST: KUALA LUMPUR: In what is arguably a disclaimer, the Health Ministry is requiring signed consent from patients needing blood transfusions or blood components.
If patients are unable to do so, their next of kin have to sign on the dotted line on forms introduced in January, endorsed by the doctor in attendance and a witness.
More than 470,000 units of blood are collected annually, of which 8,500 units are disposed of for a variety of reasons, including infections.
The need for consent is seen by some as the ministry absolving itself of responsibility, but is stoutly defended by the authorities.
Health Ministry parliamentary secretary Datuk Lee Kah Choon said that although the consent form may resemble a disclaimer, this was not the case.
"The ministry is not washing its hands of responsibility in ensuring that all blood supplied is clean and safe," he told the New Straits Times.
National Blood Bank director Dr Yasmin Ayob described it as a move to inform patients and family members of the advantages and risks involved in blood transfusions.
"It’s just like getting informed consent from family members before any other medical procedure like surgery in hospitals," she said.
Informed consent for blood transfusion accords with international acceptance standards, shoring up the ministry’s case.
But some members of the public feel the ministry is taking the easy way out in the matter.
They think the onus should be on hospitals to ensure that clean and safe blood is used in transfusions, and to be accountable if not.
Lee countered that signed consent was necessary as there was always the slightest risk of contamination.
"There are so many diseases around. We do our part in screening but there is no foolproof system.
"Nowhere in the world can anyone say that blood supplied in transfusions is 100 per cent clean and safe," he said.
Lee said medical staff would inform patients or next of kin of the benefits and risks of blood transfusion before carrying out the procedure with their consent.
Dr Yasmin said it was incumbent on medical staff to inform patients and family members of the risks in any procedure.
"Our aim is to give clean and safe blood to all patients, but the risk is there, as some people may react by getting rashes, fever or other complications," she said.
She said there was also an inherent risk of contracting infectious diseases due to the window period for such infections.
Dr Yasmin said Malaysians preferred to be informed of all procedures: the advantages, disadvantages and risks involved.
She said all blood supplies were screened for hepatitis B and C, HIV, syphilis and other infections.
Dr Yasmin said only safe blood was sent to hospitals for transfusion.
"If we have the slightest doubt about donated blood, we destroy it," she said.
There have been at least 50 cases of Malaysians infected with HIV through blood transfusions.