The Medico-legal Aspects of Blood Transfusion
Keywords:
Blood-Transfusion, Drugs, Deficit, Medico-Legal, North-East India.Abstract
Blood transfusion is considered as an essential part of health care system. Timely transfusion on one hand save lives and on the other hand unsafe blood transfusion can lead to critical problems which may even result to death of the patient. Such death creates mayhem and panic. Resultantly the attending doctor faces medico-legal exertion. Proper knowledge of the fact, timely medical intervention, and appropriate legal precaution can minimise the occurrence of medico-legal crisis. India has a National Blood Policy 2002. Though the policy came into existence in 2002 India still does not have any dedicated blood legislation and solely works through the licensing. The review paper deals with the medico-legal snags of blood transfusion. It also explains how medical practitioners can provide timely medical support to the patient and at the same time overcome legal hurdles so as not to lose precious time, so crucial on certain occasions. The paper takes into account the data collected from two tertiary level hospitals of North East India in order to draw its conclusion(s) on blood deficit.
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