Blood Donations in the Capital Region of Denmark Take an Unexpected Turn

#### Overview
Blood donations in the Capital Region of Denmark are facing scrutiny as it has come to light that anonymized donor blood is being sold for purposes such as police dog training and private companies without the explicit consent of the donors. This practice may violate existing legislation, according to Kent Kristensen, an associate professor of health law at Aalborg University.

#### Legislative Concerns
According to the Blood Supply Act, blood banks are prohibited from using donor blood for various purposes without specific approval and consent from relevant authorities, including the Danish Patient Safety Authority (Styrelsen for Patientsikkerhed) and Blood Donors Denmark (Bloddonorerne Danmark). The news outlet Politiken reports that only one approval has been granted by the Danish Patient Safety Authority for the use of blood in research during the period from 2015 to 2024, and this approval was specifically for the Central Denmark Region (Region Midtjylland).

#### Responses from Health Authorities
Morten Bagge Hansen, chief physician at the Capital Region’s blood banks, has rejected claims of illegal practices, emphasizing that the blood bank complies with all applicable rules and legislation. Bagge Hansen further stated that the blood bank does not sell surplus biological materials but rather distributes them, with the “distribution price” covering the bank’s expenses.

#### Contractual Agreements
A public records inquiry has revealed that the Capital Region entered into 38 contracts with various institutions in 2023, including private companies. Two of these contracts, which Politiken has obtained access to, involved private pharmaceutical companies with total payments amounting to 1,416,192 Danish kroner (approximately $190,000), designated as an administrative fee.

#### Donor Consent and Clarity
Blood donors provide consent for their blood to be used for quality assurance of routine analyses via a questionnaire. However, other uses such as research are only mentioned in a brochure attached to introductory letters or displayed in waiting areas. Kent Kristensen argues that research should be directly mentioned in the questionnaire for clarity’s sake.

#### Future Improvements
Morten Bagge Hansen has acknowledged that there may be room for improvement in the way donor information is communicated, stating that he will work with health law experts and Blood Donors Denmark to further investigate the situation.

This ongoing discussion highlights the need for transparency and consent in health practices, emphasizing the role of donors and the importance of adhering to legal standards in the use of medical resources.