Donor blood screening and moral responsibility: how safe should blood be?

摘要: Some screening tests for donor blood that are used by services to prevent transfusion-transmission of infectious diseases offer relatively few health benefits the resources spent on them. Can good ethical arguments be provided employing these nonetheless? This paper discusses-and ultimately rejects-three such arguments. According 'rule rescue' argument, general standards cost-effectiveness in healthcare may ignored when rescuing identifiable individuals. The argument fails this context, however, because we cannot identify beforehand who will benefit from additional tests. On 'imposed risk' do not apply interventions impose risks patients. ignores fact imposing patients is inevitable and can countered only within reasonable limits. Finally, 'manufacturing standard' premises procedures preventing contamination manufactured medical products. We contend while seems insofar as commercially products concerned, publicly funded should respect healthcare. conclude particular unpersuasive, directions advance debate.