Why do some patients refuse blood fractions?
• Why do some patients accept blood fractions? • Some feel that fractions are no longer whole blood or even one of the primary components of blood, nor are they used for the same reasons as whole blood or primary components. • Why do some patients accept some blood fractions and not others? • It can be noted that plasma proteins (fractions) move from a pregnant woman’s blood to the separate blood system of her fetus. Thus a mother passes immunoglobulins to her child, providing valuable immunity. Separately, as a fetus’ red cells complete their normal life span, their oxygen-carrying portion is processed. Some of it becomes bilirubin, which crosses the placenta to the mother and is eliminated with her body wastes. Some may conclude that since blood fractions can pass to another person in this natural setting, they could accept a blood fraction derived from blood plasma or cells.* • Why do some patients refuse blood transfusions but accept fractions derived from blood that was donated by
