Posted on 09/14/2013 2:37:12 PM PDT by zeugma
My apologies for the vanity, but I figured a rant here might just get this out of my system.
I went to Carter Bloodcare today to give my regular blood donation. Those of you who've done this know that there is a bunch of handouts that they make you read through each time that goes over people who cannot give blood. Folks with AIDS are one obvious category, but there are a bunch of others. It will also have a list of medications, that if you are taking will make you ineligible to donate blood. I've given almost 5 gallons over the past many years, so I'm familiar with all this. However, this time it's a little bit different.
Before we get to the normal several pages worth of handouts that you're supposed to read through, that I've pretty much memorized by now, they hand me a sheet the call a "Donor Notification" form. Since this is something new, I start reading through it, and discover it is a "notification that they are going to want to be doing a lot more stuff with my blood than just use it to help people who are sick. They have the usual disclaimers about 'testing', which I figure is reasonable. You have to test the stuff to make sure that you're not giving someone Hep-b or something worse if they get your blood. In addition to testing though, they also advise that they will be using your blood for research in many different ways. Of course, they tell you that what you give is 'anonymous' to these 'researchers', but anyone who actually believes that any of this can possibly actually be 'anonymous' will believe that the NSAs primary mission is to assist the Tooth Fairy in locating clients. They go on a bit about how important it is for possibly coming up with new cures and medications. Bottom line is, they want to use me and my blood to do whatever the hell they want to do with nothing more than a blanket consent by me to go ahead and have at it.
Reading through this, I told the lady at the reception desk "no". She gave me this blank look like it was a word she was completely unfamiliar with, so I told her just to give me whatever form they have to opt out of that, because I just want to give blood to help people who might need it. I didn't add that I wasn't particularly interested in assisting yet another example of corporate/government bureaucrats attempting to force us to comply with their wishes, desires, or agendas regardless of what our interests might actually be.
Did I use the word 'force'? Why yes I did. You see, when I asked for an 'opt out' form, it was as if I'd suddenly grown two heads. You see, if you're not willing to cooperate with whatever other stuff it is that they want to do with your blood besides provide it to people with critical needs, then they don't want it.
Hmmmmm. So, let me get this straight. An organization that is constantly claiming to need a supply of blood to help those in need simply isn't interested in taking the blood from someone who freely, regularly and willingly takes the time and effort to come to them to do so at regular intervals without significant compensation. Remember before I mentioned 5 gallons? Well, it takes a while to reach that level, and that's only 5 gallons with them, which doesn't count my donations in other places prior to having started going to them.
I would think that regular donors would be the life-bloood (sorry) of an organization such as theirs. Apparently I'm confused about some part of this, because frankly I'm dumbfounded, and more than just a little bit pissed off.
The nice lady at the desk gave me a card with the phone number of someone to contact about this. I called and left a message, because of course whomever it is isn't manned on the weekends.
Bottom line for me is that I'm not playing their little games any more. Everybody wants some piece of me, from my grocery store all the way up to the slimy bastards in the government who think it's just fine to read my email. I'm getting more than just a little sick of it all, and I'll tell you this: I ain't giving blood any more until they realize that perhaps I have interests of my own as well and provide a method to opt out of their schemes.
One reason this upsets me as much as it does, as I've considered for years that donating blood was one of those small things that I could do as a healthy guy that could maybe make a big difference in someone else's life.
Not only am I angry, I'm sad at what is happening to the world I live in.
Thanks for letting me rant. I feel a little better. Thanks JR for providing me a hook to hang this rant on!
and they can give the gummint a record of yer blood type
If so, then it’s likely that somebody sued them, and their lawyers told them that they had to change the forms to cover all the bases.
Agreed. That's one of the things I was thinking earlier as well. I guess it was just the in-your-face nature of it that I just couldn't stomach.
Ha! These days they don't even do that. You get "credits" at an online store that let you get tshirts and such. It's a bit if a scam for them, as they charge quite a bit to hospitals for the donated blood they receive, but I don't really mind that. It's a business. They've just reached a point now that I don't think I can continue to do business with them.
If they can't deal with having a checkbox that I don't want to participate in other things I didn't give my consent for, then there is no deal. Pretty simple really.
As for thanks, you're quite welcome but to me, its really just something that I consider to be 'the least I can do', since I'm healthy, and there is no alternative in some cases for folks than having real human blood.
Unless you are giving blood directly to the hospital, then you are giving blood for free, which is then sold for hundreds of dollars.
Red Cross and other donation locations that are “independent” are “for profit.” Don’t let them kid you. They sell to the highest bidder.
Yup. Also, the medical industry has gone as far as attempting to patent the DNA and other things that were donated to them in programs like this.
I read a story a while back about a fellow in Australia that had a really weird blood type, that could be used with infants. He was apparently the sole source world-wide for whatever it was that was in his blood. I can't recall if they've been able to synthesise it artificially, but he was single-handedly responsible for tens of thousands if not more, of saved lives. If they did, I would question whether or not he should have been compensated for it.
Also, as stated previously on the thread, every single vial is barcoded. They'll know exactly where it came from if they want to.
I figured I'd look the fellow up. Looks like I mistated the impact this guy had. From wikipedia:
James Harrison, OAM, also known as the Man with the golden arm, is a blood plasma donor[1] from Australia whose unusual plasma composition has been used to make a treatment for Rhesus disease. He has made over 1000 donations throughout his lifetime, and these donations are estimated to have saved over two million unborn babies from the condition.[1][2][3]
Wow.
I found out my local hospital charges $4,000 a pint bag for blood. I still give blood though, makes me feel like superman the rest of the day. My last time on the table I pumped out a pint in 6 minutes, hehe. My friend had 7 stiches in his hand and went to the above hospital, he got a 3,700 dollar bill. We made a pact to stich ourselves up from now on, thank you very much.
I was a regular blood donor (rare type BTW) before & after 9-11-01. Ate my first Chick Fil-A with a coupon the Red Cross gave me for my 9-11 donation.
That was long AFTER I had been stationed in Germany 1981-83.
Been disqualified for years now due to `mad cow exposure’. Sucks.
It’s “intended” purpose is whatever they want to do with it. Once you give it to them it’s theirs, they can give to people that need blood in their body, or their test tubes, their call not yours. This isn’t about negotiating terms, it’s about ownership, once you buy that car it’s yours to do with as you please, the dealer has no say in the matter. It’s not just about having a checkbox, it’s then a matter of tracking, they’d have to track the blood and make sure it was used according to the checkbox. It might be simple, but it’s wasted effort because it’s not your blood anymore and what you want to have happen to it doesn’t matter anymore.
I realize your brushing off of the “thanks” is because you see it as a reasonable expectation - but many many people don’t see it that way. A very small percentage of the population make regular blood donations. A very small increase in the number of donors would increase the blood supply to a point that we likely wouldn’t have to hear the please for blood during those “peak” times.
I’m not sure about the need for consent on partial draws (or even full donations), unless that is a policy change (or regulation change). One might make an argument that such an organization that you donate blood too SHOULD at least let you know that blood products might be used for other purposes than those we normally associate with said donations.
As far as the separate vials - over the years, it has increased from one, to two, and the last time I donated, I believe there were three vials attached to the collection bag that were also filled. When I ask, they said that they all are for testing purposes. But as always, YMMV
Mad Cow exposure???? YOu’ve got to be kidding!!!! 30 YEARS after the fact? I believe you are WAY beyond any conceivable incubation period!
They have to, at least to a point. First - because of the extensive battery of testing done on the blood samples (those attached vials) for AIDS, Hepatitis, etc.) but also, sort of like a serial number in case something comes up later.
Me, too - although my service was early 90s. And I’m O-negative.
Just checked their eligibility list. Stationed in Germany more than six months during 1980-1990 means “no go”. Apparently there is a human-invasive strain of mad cow disease. Given the last two presidential elections there may be something to that.
But just wait, sooner or later the faggies are going to go to the head of the donation line. PC is a powerful thing.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.