Use Of Hemoglobin-based Blood Substitutes Associated With Increased Risk Of Death, Heart Attack, National Institutes of Health (NIH) Study Shows; FDA Faulted for Approving Studies of Artificial Blood

Washington Post -- A new analysis concludes that the Food and Drug Administration approved experiments with artificial blood substitutes even after studies showed that the controversial products posed a clear risk of causing heart attacks and death. The review of combined data from more than 3,711 patients who participated in 16 studies testing five different types of artificial blood, released yesterday, found that the products nearly tripled the risk of heart attacks and boosted the chances of dying by 30 percent.