title: Is there a right to donate blood? Patient rights; donor responsibilities.
abstract: The objective of this study was to analyse and assess critically whether there is a right to donate blood in the UK. The aim was to provide a basis for blood services, in particular within the UK and European Union (EU), to address claims from deferred donors that there is a right to donate. Recent and ongoing campaigns to change the current life-long deferral from blood donation in the UK, Canada and USA of men who have/have had sex with men (MSM) have highlighted issues over whether individuals have a right to donate blood. The issue is complicated by allegations of discriminatory behaviour, and in some countries politicians have contributed to the argument. As anti-discrimination and equality legislation is strengthened in the UK, other groups in addition to MSM may wish to claim a right to donate blood. The methods adopted included discussions with colleagues in UK and European blood services and a review of the medical literature and wider sources using Internet search engines. No clear right to donate blood is apparent, although it is recommended that donor deferral criteria should have a sound basis of evidence. Potential donors have a right to expect a clear explanation of the reason(s) for refusing a donation. Legal safeguards for recipients to receive safe blood transfusions exist. It is concluded that blood recipients in the EU have a right to receive safe blood, and that this should be viewed as the overriding responsibility of blood services.
authors.affiliation: Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service, Edinburgh, UK. imf1c@clinmed.gla.ac.uk
authors.forename: Ian M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Franklin
mesh_terms: D001782:Blood Donors / Q000941:ethics / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005062:European Union; D006806:Human Rights; D006801:Humans; D028701:Patient Rights / Q000941:ethics / Q000639:trends; D018579:Patient Selection; D011287:Prejudice; D012941:Social Responsibility; D006113:United Kingdom