Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-09-11
Blood Bank Dispute

AAC OOLloAOCI dD1C pIOIIll~
nence given to the dispute
regarding the collection of
blood in individual hospital
blood banks versus the Red
Cross program is well de-
served. This is a problem
which each individual realizes
relates potentially to himself
or to his family.
For this reason it is i'm
portant that your readers be
acquainted with the problems
confronting the individual
hospitals and the physicians
responsible for the care of
patients in these hospitals.
AS a practicing physician I
can say that the need for
blood is urgent, unpredict-
able, and immediate. ePeri-
odic blood bank shortages"
represent periods of anxiety
and potential catastrophe for
the individual hospital. If
blood is not available at the
time OF need, it is small COM
tort to the patient or his
family that. in general. the
blood bank does a good Job.
Hospitals dependent on the
Red Cross Blood Bank have
watched anxiously as the
stocks OF blood on hand fluc-
tuated from adequate to per-
ilously low levels. Collection
OF blood has been usually poor
during vacation and holiday
seasons - periods of highest
accident incidence.
The rapidly burgeoning
population in suburban areas
has increased tremendously
the load on community hos
pitals-particularly the acci-
dent, obStetrical, and surgical
wards where the need for
blood is greatest. The result
ing large amounts of blood
utilized day in and day out
have often depleted blood re-
serves to the point where
hospitals were forced to can
eel elective surgery and face
a long week end with only
two or three pintS of blood in
reserve.
AS this predicament be-
came lore frequent. the
pathologists (the directors of
the hospital laboratories and
the physicians responsible for
the distribution of blood in
the hospitals) with the sup
port Of the medical stats of
the hospitals and the board
OF trustees established their
own blood banks, feeling that
this afforded greater assur-
ance of a constant adequate
amount of blood. And this
has been the case! AS blood
has been withdrawn it has
been replaced by voluntary
donations of friends or rela-
tives, by credit from other
blood banks including the
Red Cross Blood Banks or by
professional donors. What
ever method of replacement
employed results in no finan-
cial benefit to the hospital or
pathologist-the $25 donor fee
goes in its entirely to the pro-
feSSional donor.
This, briefly, is the story
behind the development of
hospital blood banks in this
area. "Clannish support"
socialism" or mo third party
doctrine" have nothing to do
with the issue at hand. The
majority of physicians, along
with other citizens, have the
highest respect for the Amer
lean Red Cross. We are proud
of how it has responded so
effectively and frequently
during wars and national
disasters.
But hospitals and physi-
clans, being responsible for
the health of the members
OF their community, have a
transcendent obligation to
maintain an adequate re-
serve of blood. When blood is
needed, we must have it.
Every other consideration is
Of secondary importance.
AS a suggestion, it would
seem that while the Red
Cross is a national organiza-
ton guided by national poll
cies, if it is going to collect
blood and be the main
source of blood supply in a
particular locality it must as
sumo the responsibility for
maintaining an adequate
store of blood at all times.
This nay mean that during
certain periods it will de-
mand replacement of blood
on a quid pro quo basis. If
an infiexible national policy
precludes this-as. it has in
the past-then the present
approach of the hospitals is
the only responsible stand.
Stephen J. Sheehy, MD.