Gordon asks hospitals to change blood rules

Philippine Red Cross chair Sen. Richard Gordon on Monday called on hospitals to stop requiring patients to replace blood units that they obtain, saying the practice compromises the safety of donated blood.

Gordon said the mandatory blood replacement also violated the National Blood Services Act of 1994, or Republic Act No. 7719, which ensured “adequate, safe, affordable and equitable distribution of supply of blood and blood products.” —Jhesset O. Enano