Example 5:
QUESTION: Are you in good health generally?
Under a doctor's care now for any reason? Why?
Ever had a serious illness or operation? When? What?
Any illness or operation in last six months? When? What?
Any unexplained weight loss?
Ever cough up or vomit blood? Explain.
Suffer from chest pain or shortness of breath? Explain.
Have you lost weight recently? How much? Why?
EXPLANATION: Donors should be in good health. This group of questions may reveal
the presence or history of kidney, lung, heart, stomach or liver
disease, or cancer. Be sure all are either denied or explained.
Acutely ill donors must be deferred (temporarily or permanently).
Chronic conditions should be evaluated by a physician.
A history of rheumatic heart disease or coronary heart disease is
cause for deferment (permanent). A single episode of rheumatic fever
or pericarditis, a heart murmur, or repair of a congenital defect does
not necessarily disqualify a donor.
Active pulmonary tuberculosis is cause for deferment. Donors with a
reactive tuberculin skin test, but without other abnormality, may be
accepted.
A history of excessive, unexplained weight loss, often defined as 10%
or more, should be investigated further and evaluated by a physician
prior to acceptance.
Infectious mononucleosis is not cause for deferment if recovery is
complete.
Donors who have had major surgery should be deferred for at least
six months. Minor surgery is disqualifying only until healing is
complete. The determination of "major" and "minor" may have to be
made by a physician, but the following common operations are
generally classified as minor: closed reduction of fracture, repair
of hernia, hemorrhoidectomy, appendectomy, tonsillectomy, minor
gynecologic procedures, removal of pilonidal cyst, and varicose vein
surgery.
MD0845
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