TY - JOUR T1 - The unpaid donation of blood and altruism: a comment on Keown. JF - Journal of Medical Ethics JO - J Med Ethics SP - 252 LP - 256 DO - 10.1136/jme.24.4.252 VL - 24 IS - 4 AU - H V McLachlan Y1 - 1998/08/01 UR - http://jme.bmj.com/content/24/4/252.abstract N2 - In line with article 3.4 of EC directive 89/381, Keown has presented an ethical case in support of the policy of voluntary, unpaid donation of blood. Although no doubt is cast on the desirability of the policy, that part of Keown's argument which pertains to the suggested laudability of altruism and of its encouragment by social policy is examined and shown to be dubious. ER -