There are many ethical health care issues that are currently affecting our society. One of the current health care issues that are affecting our society is blood transfusion, the ability to receive medical treatment. Many issues within blood transfusions make it an ethical issue, affecting our society because it enables patients to receive blood transfusions in many situations. Many reasons behind blood transfusions are done for injury, major surgeries, and related blood disorders.
Blood transfusion is a medical treatment that replaces blood loss during serious injuries, surgery, disease, lack of blood due to blood disorders and illness (Torphy, 2012). Blood donated comes from another person and used for transfusions. Patients who have illnesses and common blood disorders are highly recommended to have blood transfusions to replace missing blood and to help treat the disease. Blood transfusion transfers 40,000 units of blood using blood transfusion daily (Torphy, 2012). Transfusions are very safe and used often. With blood transfusions, risks can occur when hemolytic transfusion reaction to blood given not compatible with the patient’s blood type (Torphy, 2012). Fever and chills could occur after receiving blood and immune reaction can occur as well.
Furthermore, we will discuss the importance of blood transfusion and reasons why it is a current ethical health care issue. The four major ethic principles will be used to evaluate and apply reasons to this issue.
Procedure for Blood Transfusions
The procedure for blood transfusion is completed in various steps. To prepare for transfusion, white blood cells are removed to reduce allergic reactions in patients (Torphy, 2012). By inserting a small needle used to insert IV’s into a blood vessel, through the line, where blood passes through to the patient. Depending on how much blood is needed, the procedure can last one to four hours. During transfusion, a nurse monitors any signs or reaction. Transfusion may be...