Obtaining the patients' informed consent before performing blood transfusions

If blood transfusions become necessary during or after surgery the patient must be informed for the purpose of obtaining his informed consent. Such information must be given either by the responsible anaesthesiologist or surgeon - either separately or by agreement by one of them - with particular reference to possible sequels to the transfusion or adverse reactions. The taste of informing the patient may also be delegated e.g. to the ward physician. If autohaemotransfusion is considered instead of immediate or indirect transfusion, information must include this possibility. A tumour patient must be informed of the possibility of an autologous transfusion even if this is refused by the blood bank cooperating with the hospital.