An Act providing for patient election for donation and use of autologous blood; providing for disclosure of vaccination status in blood transfusions and requiring informed consent; and imposing duties on the Department of Health.

SB 957, the Blood Transparency and Patient Rights Act, gives patients the right to choose their own stored blood (autologous donation) or blood from designated donors (directed donation) for transfusions. It requires hospitals and blood providers to disclose the vaccination status of blood donors to patients upon request and include this information in informed consent forms before transfusions. The law applies to all patients receiving blood transfusions in Pennsylvania medical facilities, with exceptions only in life-threatening emergencies where consent cannot be obtained. The Department of Health must create regulations for standardized consent forms and public education about these options, effective 180 days after enactment.