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CASE 3
You are part of a team of nurses and doctors who are working with a
local health clinic in a country where a long-standing civil war has
been halted by a recent cease-fire. The main objective of your project
is to establish treatment programs for malaria (malaria is a major cause
of mortality, especially for children).
One aspect of the malaria program is to set up a system for blood
transfusion (there is no available blood supply). Donations are
provided by relatives (usually parents). Donors are told that their
blood will be tested for compatibility. The blood is tested for
diseases such as HIV, and Hepatitis B and C. However, there is little
understanding of HIV in the community and no treatment available.
Communication with patients is usually conducted through translators.
- Should you provide the test results to those who donate blood?
- Are there other concerns with this program?
