Our blood utilization committee is looking at revising the informed consent form. Currently this form lists numbers for the risk of acquiring HIV, Hepatitis B and C from a transfusion. It also mentions that there could be an undetectable mismatch, and mild and temporary reactions (fever, chills, etc.). Do any of your facilities use a brochure for patients that has this info? Also do any of your facilities require "why" to be on the form- such as why the doctor feels that patient needs a transfusion?

Our informed consent form does not list the reasons for or the current risk statistics of blood transfusion. It just states that the physician has had a discussion with the patient/family and has explained both of those things to them, that the patient/family understands the risks and benefits of receiving the possible transfusion, that they have had all of their questions answered to their satisfaction, and that they agree to this course of treatment. Coming from California, we also need to cover the Paul Gann requirement and so there are boxes to check on the form about having had the discussion about donor options (Directed Donor or Autologous) and that they are either deciding to utilize those options or they are not. Our hospital transfusion committee has developed a Transfusion Brochure that the physician is encouraged to use during the informed consent discussion which details the risks, benefits, and the various transfusion options (directed, autologous, associated additional costs for special donated products, the phone # to call at the local donor center should they be interested, use of alternative methods such as cell saver, hemodilution, and possible enrollment into our "Bloodless Program" should they decide they want to try to avoid transfusion altogether.) This seems to work well. I update the Transfusion Brochure annually as part of my document review to make sure information remains current.