Blood Transfusions-A Long History of Controversy

 Another Scandar: HIV-Contaminated Blood

In the 1980's, it was found that blood can be contaminated with HIV, the virus that leads to AIDS. At first, blood bankers were loathe to consider that their supply might by tainted.  Many of them initially greeted the HIV threat with skepticism. According to Dr. Bruce Evatt, "It was as though someone had wandered in from the desert and said, 'I've seen an extraterrestrial.' They listened, but they just didn't believe it." 

Nevertheless, country after country has seen scandals break out exposing HIV-contaminated blood. It is established that in France, between 6,000 and 8,000  people were infected with HIV through transfusions that were administered between1982 and 1985.  Blood transfusions are held responsible for 10 percent of HIV infections throughout Africa and for 40 percent of the AIDS cases in Pakistan.  Today, because of improved screening, HIV transmission through blood tranfusions is rare in developed nations.  However, such transmissions continues to be a problem in developing nations that lack screening processes. 

Understandably, in recent years there has been an increased interest in bloodless medicine and surgery.  But is this a safe alternative?

Next time: Blood Transfusions-A Long History of  Controversy - Blood Transfusions-No Medical Standard

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