Sir, There has been a great deal of legitimate concern expressed in your paper about the transfusion of blood and its products. However, it is important to place in perspective the essential role of blood transfusion in medical practice.
Blood transfusion can be life saving and the use of blood products improves the life of many people with disorders of blood clotting and may prevent the consequences of Rhesus incompatibility for affected foetuses. Yet, as with almost all medical interventions, there are associated risks, some known and presumably some unknown. For the population in general, the benefit of blood transfusion and the use of blood products outweigh the risks involved.
The place of blood transfusion in medical practice is changing, but the need for blood donations continues. - Yours, etc
Fellow and Registrar, The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland,
Kildare St,
Dublin 2.