Table 2 –

Contexts of Transfusion Medicine practice to be considered.

• Consider that ethical issues and challenges related to the education and training in Transfusion Medicine encompass a wide variety of concepts, principles, disciplines and theories and range from the global and more conceptual to the most personal, direct and practical.

• Take into account the principle of blood as a national resource, non-for-profit service and without boundaries of state, religion, nationality, culture, etc.

• Take into account the principle of centralization of blood donation testing and processing to standardize quality and safety of blood (16)

• Follow an outcomes-based approach, with clear recommendations on the required roles, knowledge, skills, attitudes, ethical and professional values of a trainee completing such a program. This should be linked to the scope of practice required from such a professional (medical, nursing, technical) and address the deficiencies that exist before the program is completed. It should take into account international standards of knowledge and practice.

• Take account of adult learning principles and modern methods of teaching and education (e.g., blended, e-learning, self-learning).

• Focus on the clinical practice of transfusion medicine and related issues supported by a theoretical basis of blood banking and laboratory medicine (procurement/manufacturing of blood) rather than the other way around.

• Be fit for purpose, easy to understand, apply and implement.

• Provide clear recommendations for the development and implementation of the model framework, in particular the contents of the curriculum.