A medico-legal approach to developing a structured decision-making process for patients refusing blood transfusions

Healthcare professionals should follow predictable, effective, efficient, transparent, and traceable guidelines when dealing with patients who refuse blood transfusions. A structured communication process, as a part of the informed consent, offers a replicable framework that can be adapted to other clinical contexts where high-stakes decision-making intersects with patient rights, supporting a culture of safety, transparency, and continuous improvement in healthcare delivery, while also helping to mitigate medico-legal risk and potential legal action.