The Medical Director of a blood bank in Southern California would like to accept 16-year-old donors at High School blood drives and asks what procedures need to be followed. He is particularly interested in the wording of California Civil Code §1607.5, which states "... a person who has attained the age of 15 may consent to the donation of his or her blood ... if he or she has the written consent of his or her parents or a guardian, and the written authorization of a physician and surgeon."

He states that he knows of several Blood Banks that accept 16-year old donors by allowing the collection facility's Medical Director to authorize donations by an approved policy or standing order that allow RNs on site to authorize these donors.

Has there been any formal determination on this point? What is the practice at other Blood Centers in California?

ADDENDA June 22, 2008

1. The Director of Donor Services of a blood service in Washington State writes: We plan to collect automated double red cell products on high school mobiles. We must have signed parent/guardian permission slips for 16 and 17 y/o donors for whole blood collection. Is a different permission slip used for automated double red cell collections? Must the parent sign the consent form for the ADRC collection? The logistics seem a little convoluted. Any information on how this can be handled would be very helpful.

The Editors note that state law may vary, so responses from Washington State would be especially helpful.

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Ira A. Shulman, MD
CBBS e-Network Forum Editor & Moderator

W. Tait Stevens, MD
CBBS e-Network Forum Assistant Editor & Moderator