[The precaution principle and blood transfusion].
Because of the HIV and HCV virus transmission by transfusion during the eighties, there has been a retrospective reflection about the non-application of the precautionary principle, which has appeared only recently in the medical world. Since it was difficult to identify the real cause of the above-cited transmission in France, mainly because of the bad selection of blood donors, we feel we are justified in applying this precautionary principle more and more, in a monopolistic way, for biological security reasons. As a result, the biological research is not limited to looking for a 'degree zero' risk. Whether it concerns the 'PCR', the research of a new potential virus, the excessive fear regarding the transfusion of the new ESB agent, the worry caused by the blood donors who lived in the British Isles, the need for security based upon the precautionary principle is increasing endlessly. It is, however, more reasonable to consider that the precautionary principle should be essence incite a multi-disciplinary reflection involving biological sciences as well as social sciences. The precautionary principle would not make sense if it were not questioned for bad estimations, its harmful influences or its opportunistic use. Transfusion security, which is so important as a goal and as a principle, cannot appeal to the precautionary principle all the time, since the excessive use of this principle would lead to the paradox of not being able to identify the issues anymore.
Service de médecine interne, hôpital Cochin, Paris, France.
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Sicard
D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000379:methods; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000592:standards; D007562:Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000097:blood; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011328:Prions / Q000097:blood; D011639:Public Opinion; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012449:Safety; D013997:Time Factors; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D014766:Viremia / Q000097:blood / Q000635:transmission
D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D011328:Prions