[Blood representations associated to chronic transfused patients: Symbolic interpretations and ethical perspectives]

Abstract

Since the beginning of the 20th century, major technological developments have been made in blood transfusion. Although numerous sociological studies have been conducted on donors, few have highlighted transfused patients, and in this case, the attention has almost exclusively been focused on transfusion risks in patients. Conversely, blood representations associated with the chronically transfused patients have not really been explored in the literature. Based on interviews conducted among chronically transfused patients (patients with hemoglobinopathy, malignant hemopathy or cancer), this present study enables to understand their needs and their expectations through their symbolic representations and their interpretations of blood transfusion, raising tensions as well ethical perspectives.

Keywords: Blood components; Blood symbolic representations; Blood transfusion; Ethics; Labile blood products; Patients; Produits sanguins labiles; Receveurs; Représentation symbolique du sang; Transfusion sanguine; Éthique.