The Battle over Blood Collection

Abstract

AbstractThe struggle for control of this nation's life-giving blood resources was, up until five years ago, largely a private affair between representative organizations of the blood collectors. The system that emerged from that struggle was declared unhealthy by several experts who complained that blood was too often unsafe or unavailable. Then in 1972 the government, predominantly the federal government, responded to public pressure and joined the fray. This Comment examines some legal, political, and policy aspects of the battle over blood collection—a battle from which no stable guiding force has yet evolved.