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Blood Transfusions: An Ethical Dilemma

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Sandra gave permission for blood transfusion due to being scared of dying, deontological thinking point parents to refuse blood transfusion for Sandra, knowing that their decision in result may cause death of their daughter. The physician's legal and ethical obligation finally rests with the child patient and not the wishes of the parents. Respect for patient's autonomy and Human Rights Act (1998) require obtaining informed consent before any medical intervention. This is fundamental to good medical practice. The refusal to blood transfusions causes an ethical dilemma between the patient's freedom to receive or to refuse a medical treatment even unto death however it is also the physician's responsibility to provide the best treatment (Chand, …show more content…
A mentally capable human being has total moral and legal right to refuse or reject the consent for medical treatment or transfusion except when he has diminished decision-making capacity or a legal intervention mandates treatment. The Family Law Reform Act (1969) states that 16 year old are empowered to consent to their own treatment which means Sandra can make a decision for herself. It is also stated that 16 year old cannot refuse the blood transfusion as it could be considered choice to die. However, at her 16 Sandra is still reflected as a minor to be able to fully decide about her treatment (Lawteacher.net, …show more content…
However, if parents refuse blood transfusion for their children or young adult who is required an urgent therapy, the court should be contacted on the telephone for a declaration that the treatment is still legalized. If there is no time to contact the court, under the medical law doctor should let the blood transfusion to happen to save the child’s life as he cannot allow the human being to die for want of blood. English courts have never allowed litigation to commence against a clinician who saves a life in good faith (Uhs.nhs.uk,

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