Informed consent for blood transfusion

At present, few institutions consider separate informed consent for blood transfusions; rather, the patient gives this consent as part of a more comprehensive statement. This should change in the era of increasing patient's rights. The physician has the moral duty to fully inform the patient of the risks and benefits involved in the planned therapy. A separate consent requires time and paperwork but if done properly, it benefits the patients by increasing their knowledge and autonomy in the transfusion process.