[The physician's role in blood donation]

In France, proper transfusion practices impose that the medical pre-donation interview be done by a physician. In Anglo-Saxon countries, it is more often performed by a nurse. The physician's job is not limited to the clinical selection of blood donation volunteers. In the production process, the physician is implicated in the safety and supply of labile blood products. The practice of the profession requires educational and communication skills. As the manager of a medical team working in mobile sites, the physician must ensure the respect of ethics and professional regulations by the staff he or she trains and supervises.