Soon, I will be introducing legislation that would allow an individual who is scheduled to receive a medical procedure to provide an autologous or directed blood donation for that procedure.

An autologous blood donation occurs when a patient receives their own blood, typically collected before surgery, for transfusion during or after the procedure. 

A directed blood donation occurs when a patient's ABO and Rh compatible family members and/or friends donate blood for the patient’s upcoming procedure. 

While autologous and directed blood donations occur in this Commonwealth, they tend to be done in certain circumstances, like having a rare blood type. People should be able to use their own blood if needed for regular issues.

My legislative proposal supports an individual’s right to medical liberty. If an individual donates blood to be used during their medical procedure, their blood should be utilized instead of being put in a blood bank and having other blood given to them. Ultimately, an individual’s own blood or their family member’s blood should be used first if necessary.

This bill would make sure decisions involving blood donations are upheld by hospitals and other healthcare institutions. Further, it will prevent healthcare providers from disregarding patient preferences.
 
Please join me in co-sponsoring this legislation.