Evening star., 1947-03-08
Medical Society
Decision Due
On Blood Bank
Special Unit to Meet
Today on Issue Ruised
BY Red Cross Offer

Whether the District Medical So
ciety will cooperate in Red Cross
plan to set up free civilian blood
bank here was expected to be set
tied this afternoon in q special SUBJ.
committee meeting.
The Red Cross has offered to A.
nance and administer such bank
as soon as it can obtain the profess
sional guidance and sponsorship of
the medical profession.
A letter outlining the proposal
was sent to the District Medical
Society January "a. referred to the
Pathology Committee, under DR..
Oscar B. Hunter, ST., and subse-
quently referred to a special sub
committee under DR.. Roger M.
Choisser.
DR.. Choisser's subcommittee was
to meet at pm. today In the George
Washington University medical
school to discuss the issue. While
the committees recommendations
are not binding on the society mem
bership, they are expected to carry
considerable weight in determining
the policy to be adopted.
The controversial issue involved
in the proposal, according to local
medical men, is the Red Cross policy
Of making the blood available with
out charge to any patient whose
doctor prescribes TRANSMISSION, re-
gardless of the individuals finan-
cial condition.
The Community Blood Plasma
Bank, now sponsored by the medical
society and directed by DR.. Choisser.
offers free blood only to INDECENT
patients. Persons able to pay are
required to do so, unless friends or
relatives agree to pay back to the
bank double the quantity drawn
during treatment.
Nat C. Wilson, manager Of the
District Red Cross chapter, said
yesterday national Red Cross policy
precludes either payments to blood
donors or fees to recipients Of blood
contributions.
He asserted the local chapters
consultation with the District Med
ical Society before going ahead with
plans for the blood bank, which he
hoped to open by July, was in line
with national policy of seeking the
cooperation of the medical profess
sion in each locality.
May Turn Elsewhere.
"The medical society is the out
standing medical group of the COM
munity, and we naturally want their
support" he declared 1--WE are most
hopeful of getting it."
He indicated, however, that II the
medical society's aid is not FORTH
coming, the Red Cross may seek in
dorsement of the blood bank from
the Hospital Council or the District
Health Department.
Mr.. Wilson said the proposed
blood center would seek donations
of 10000 pints of blood each year.
He estimated the plan would cost
the District Red Cross $4,000 O
year.
"The District Chapter of the Red
Cross" he asserted, would meet
sll the costs of opening the center,
the employment of the necessary
medical director, nurses, technicians.
rent, transportation and equipment"
A site for the bank has not been
selected but would be in central
downtown location" the Red Cross
manager said.
Other Centers Setup.
Similar blood centers already have
been setup >by the Red Cross in
Detroit and Los Angeles, according
to Mr.. Wilson, while Red Cross
Chapters In Michigan and Massa-
chusetts are cooperating with State
boards of health in State-operated
blood banks.
The Red Cross, he pointed out.
has considerable experience in this
work. The first Red Cross chapter
to undertake to furnish hospitals
with volunteer blood donors, ne said.
was that of Augusta, Ga, in 1895.
At that time, no facilities for storing
the blood existed.
From September 10, 1910, to Au-
gust Is, 1945. the District chapter
operated a blood bank which sup
piled the armed forces. It was
located first at the old Naval Hospi-
tai at Twenty-third street and Con-
stitution avenue NV, and later at
First street and Indiana avenue
NV.