Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Treatment of Platelet Products with Riboflavin and UV Light: Effectiveness Against High Titer Bacterial Contamination
10:32

Treatment of Platelet Products with Riboflavin and UV Light: Effectiveness Against High Titer Bacterial Contamination

Published on: August 24, 2015

[Moral considerations in the re-introduction of blood transfusion in the 19th century]

B Elkeles1

  • 1Abt. Geschichte der Medizin im Zentrum für öffentliche Gesundheitspflege Medizinische Hochschule Hannover.

Gesnerus
|January 1, 1991
PubMed

The reintroduction of human blood transfusion in the 19th century repeatedly gave rise to discussions within the profession whether this dangerous therapeutic procedure might be justified or not. Those who used it protested that they did not act irresponsibly or without a valuable indication. They stressed the possibly life-saving effect of transfusion in desperate cases, especially in cholera victims and in obstetrical cases with extreme loss of blood. Their opponents, on the other hand, emphasized the high risk and the insufficient theoretical basis of the procedure. This historical discussion illustrates a dilemma that is of great importance in medical ethics up to the present day.

More Related Videos

Continuous Manual Exchange Transfusion for Patients with Sickle Cell Disease: An Efficient Method to Avoid Iron Overload05:23

Continuous Manual Exchange Transfusion for Patients with Sickle Cell Disease: An Efficient Method to Avoid Iron Overload

Published on: March 14, 2017

Pre-clinical Model of Cardiac Donation after Circulatory Death06:26

Pre-clinical Model of Cardiac Donation after Circulatory Death

Published on: August 2, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Blood Transfusion and Agglutination02:45

Blood Transfusion and Agglutination

Blood transfusion is a therapeutic measure to restore the blood volume after extensive blood loss due to an accident or a medical procedure. Blood transfusion involves drawing a certain amount of blood from a suitable donor and infusing it into the recipient.
History
The history of blood transfusion dates back to the 17th century, when early attempts were made in animals. In 1818 James Blundell, a British doctor, performed the first successful human blood transfusion. Later in 1900, Karl...
Rh Blood Group01:19

Rh Blood Group

The Rhesus (Rh) antigen is crucial in determining blood groups and ensuring compatibility during blood transfusions.
Blood Transfusion01:15

Blood Transfusion

Blood transfusion is a critical medical procedure that saves lives and treats various medical conditions. It involves transferring blood from a donor to a recipient. This process requires a thorough understanding of the ABO blood group system and its associated antigens and antibodies.
Blood Transfusion Overview
A blood transfusion is a medical procedure used to replace blood lost due to injury, surgery, or to treat conditions such as anemia or cancer. During a transfusion, donor blood is...
Bone Marrow Sampling and Transplants01:22

Bone Marrow Sampling and Transplants

Bone marrow transplant is a potential cure for several diseases, including cancer and specific genetic disorders. Notably, this procedure is applicable for patients suffering from aplastic anemia, certain types of leukemia, severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID), Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple myeloma, thalassemia, sickle-cell disease, and certain cancers.
The transplant begins with high doses of chemotherapy and radiation treatment, which aim to destroy the...
Tissue Transplantation01:24

Tissue Transplantation

Tissue transplantation is a significant medical procedure involving the transfer of cells, tissues, or organs from a donor to a recipient, with the primary aim of restoring lost functions. This procedure is crucial in treating a broad spectrum of diseases, including kidney diseases, liver failure, heart disease, and certain types of cancers.
The Biology of Tissue Transplantation
The biology of tissue transplantation hinges on the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules. These molecules...
Kidney Transplant I: Introduction01:28

Kidney Transplant I: Introduction

A kidney transplant is a surgical approach that involves replacing a non-functioning kidney with a healthy one from a donor. This procedure is often a treatment option for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. The method requires careful recipient selection, including evaluating various medical and psychosocial factors. These criteria vary between transplant centers but generally include assessments of the patient's overall health, adherence to medical recommendations, and lifestyle...