Defining the Risks of Venipuncture

To the Editor: The necessity for venipuncture in the performance of clinical work and investigational research is generally taken for granted, but the risks of this relatively simple procedure need to be firmly kept in mind, especially in attending to the latter effort. A review of over 100 research proposals submitted for approval at the Harbor General Hospital during the academic year 1975-76 failed to establish a common description of the risks of venipuncture as required for informed consent. A complete review of the medical literature, including a Medlars I.I. bibliographic search on March 22, 1976, revealed no existing. . . No extract is available for articles shorter than 400 words.