Dr. K,

Here’s what I don’t understand: There are 8 blood types and only 1 or 2 of them are rare. So finding a match shouldn’t be difficult. In fact, isn’t it likely that one of the baby’s parents are a match? And aren’t patients generally allowed to bank their own blood before an operation? Would it be that much of a stretch for one of the baby’s parents or relatives to donate the blood needed? I understand why a blood bank wouldn’t want to create precedents of this sort, but blood from a known donor is always safer than blood from an anonymous donor.