MODEL RELEASED. Medical consulation. Doctors discussing the case of a thalassaemia patient. Blood test results are seen on the computer screen. Thalassaemia is an inherited condition where the red blood cells are fragile and easily damaged. Patients require regular blood transfusions, but this raises the levels of iron in the blood. The excess iron can be removed by the prescription of a chelating agent such as Desferal (deferoxamine) or Ferriprox (deferiprone).