An international panel of experts co-chaired by Jeffrey Carson, Distinguished Professor of Medicine at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, developed guidelines for new strategies which could help preserve the blood supply and prevent complications that result from transfusions. Published in JAMA, the guidelines recommend a more restrictive approach in determining optimal treatment for patients where red blood cell transfusions might be unnecessary. The panel urged an overall clinical context “including signs, symptoms, co-morbidities, conditions and patient values and preferences that will differ between patients” be taken into account on case-by-case basis to ensure each patient receives optimal treatment. To read the full story.