Blog•Mar 30, 2026
Tennessee SB1947: When Patient Rights Collide with a $24 Billion Industry
Tennessee Senate Bill 1947 aimed to guarantee patients the right to receive autologous or directed blood transfusions ordered by their physicians. The measure cleared the Senate Health Committee and passed the Senate floor 25‑6, but stalled in a later committee after intensive lobbying by blood‑bank and hospital groups. The bill’s defeat highlights a broader national push, with more than ten states considering similar legislation to restore patient‑directed blood rights. The controversy underscores the clash between medical autonomy and a $24 billion U.S. blood industry.
