SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5714

BYSenators Cantu, Craswell, Johnson and Rasmussen

Authorizing donors to specify recipients of blood donations.

Senate Committee on Health Care & Corrections

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 2, 1988

Senate Staff:Dee Knapp (786-7452)

AS OF FEBRUARY 2, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Any person 18 years of age or older may voluntarily donate their blood to a blood bank.  Current law does not specifically authorize a blood donor to designate the recipient. 

SUMMARY:

Any blood donor program must honor requests to have blood donations directed for use to any person designated by a donor for a period of 14 days.  The programs are authorized to charge reasonable fees to cover the administrative costs for such directed blood donations.

The programs shall include: (l) written consent of the patient and a written request from the patient's responsible physician; (2) a scheduled procedure that will likely require transfusion; (3) authority for the blood bank to separate the blood into component parts and accept blood prior to testing the blood type of the recipient; (4) blood must be viable for at least 14 days; (5) cryoprecipitate may be directed only upon special request; (6) only one recipient may be named; (7) the donor must make an appointment with the blood donor program; (8) the donor must sign a release; and (9) the request must be made no later than 48 hours prior to the expected transfusion.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested