Should clinical freedom be constrained in the name of self-sufficiency?

Clinical freedom should enable a physician to decide in a free and unbiased manner which is the most appropriate therapy to use for a particular patient. In order to implement the four aims of the German Haemophilia Society an average of 4-4.5 units of Factor VIII per capita of the general population per year is needed. At present European countries do not produce this amount, but to reduce the consumption of F VIII in therapy lowers treatment levels. Until plasma collection services in Europe can be expanded it is necessary that the additional, imported, sources of plasma are available, otherwise clinical freedom will be curtailed.