Report: Unscreened blood posed danger (Battlefield Blood in Iraq/Afghan tainted)

Stars & Stripes ^ | Apr 11 | Travis J. Tritten

[xzins]

The mass casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan have been relatively small in terms of past wars involving America.

The walking blood supply is one of the important issues in any discussion of permitting open homosexuality in the military.

If homosexuality is openly permitted, then one can no more complain about a US homosexual shacking up with a local than you can complain about a US heterosexual shacking up with a local.

Homosexuals are shockingly promiscuous in their number of partners and in their lack of standards in selecting partners. Any HIV test given prior to deployment would be obsolete within weeks given that the infectiousness of HIV infection is evident mere weeks after infection.

In short, would you want your child given a transfusion during a mass casualty on a battlefield? Just as important, would you want your child denied a transfusion because of suspect blood in the unit? Would you want to be a part of a unit where your blood could save the lives of unit members, but some blood in that unit no one would want to get near? Would that enhance morale?

[ponygirl]

You do have a point there. Within the civilian population, blood donors are questioned about sexual activity and any male who has had sex with another male since 1977 (or is it ‘79?) is not allowed to donate blood.

[Jemian]

Let me see if I understand this:

a soldier is bleeding out and they give him blood to save his life, which he is about to lose if he doesn’t get blood IMMEDIATELY.

But now they’re fussing because the blood given was unscreened and the soldier may develop an awful disease (rule out malaria as being awful. It is very treatable. I know.) at some unspecified time down the road and that disease while bad and may kill him may also be treatable.

Um, I’ll take door number one, please.

[xzins]

So, you want your child to be part of a unit where his choices are “die or get tainted blood which may kill you far sooner than the norm?”

It is a morale issue in the unit. Your blood can save Snuffy, but Snuffy’s will kill or debilitate you.

Why did I just have to take doxycycline for weeks when I recently was in Asia, if malaria is so cool?

[Jemian]

Yes, I would rather risk JemiansTerror's life down the road than have him die today.

I never said "malaria is cool." I said it is treatable. I have no clue why you took doxycycline as prophylaxis. It doesn't work for me. Plus, it does cause yeast infections which are also not cool.

I live in Sentani, Papua, Indonesia. I am 2.5 degrees below the equator. Malaria is endemic here. When I feel malarial, I run a slide down to the lab and check. If positive, I take the meds for that specific type of malaria and I'm better often within hours. I get malaria 2 - 4 times a year. I'd rather have it than a cold.

[xzins]

You’d rather risk his life down the road than insure the purity of the blood supply so that there is no risk?

That’s an odd position. I’d rather get rid of the risk.

The doxy was one of the recommended meds. It was also available from the pharmacies in my rural area.

[Jemian]

Of course I’d rather get rid of the risk. That’s not what I’m saying.

I am saying, don’t condemn the medicoes for using the only available option if it will save a life, even if it risks complications later on.

Hubby takes doxy every day. He still gets malaria. I don’t use prophaxis. Our illness rates are about the same.

FWIW, larium, aka mefloquin, was one of the recommended malarial drugs. It is a very dangerous drug.

[xzins]

mefloquin was on the list, but not available in the time frame I had to depart. Doxy was on the shelf.

Good. Let’s agree to get rid of the risk and to make decisions about the walking blood supply that keep the risk as low as humanly possible.

Let’s also acknowledge that tainted blood in one’s unit will affect unit morale.

[Jemian]

On that, we can agree.

[Lurker]

Why did I just have to take doxycycline for weeks when I recently was in Asia, if malaria is so cool

Because your doctor is an idiot. Doxy is useless against malaria.

L

[xzins]

Why It Is Used

Doxycycline is used to prevent malaria:

In chloroquine-resistant areas (where chloroquine is no longer effective against the parasite) when you cannot take mefloquine (for example, because of side effects).

If you will be traveling in certain areas of Thailand.

How Well It Works

Doxycycline is effective in the prevention of malaria.

[little jeremiah]

Thanks, xzins, for the ping.

This isn't really a "regular" HA pingout. But xzins' comment is exactly to the point, and just one of the reasons homosexuals should not be admitted in the military (albeit a very important reason). Even "don't ask don't tell" isn't stringent enough. It should be "ask, and if it's the wrong answer, show them the door of the recruting center".

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[ansel12]

"One issue I want to clarify concerns President Clinton’s “don’t ask, don’t tell, don’t pursue” military policy. I believe that the Clinton compromise was a step in the right direction. I am also convinced that it is the first of a number of steps that will ultimately lead to gays and lesbians being able to serve openly and honestly in our nation’s military. That goal will only be reached when preventing discrimination against gays and lesbians is a mainstream concern, which is a goal we share."

Sincerely,

W. Mitt Romney

[cookcounty]

Some people stick their finger in the wind to help them make a decision.

Mr. Romney sticks his whole Mitt in the air to see where his tactical advantage lies.

No thank you.

[SatinDoll]

It isn’t that easy a problem. Not all blood borne diseases have cures, herpes simplex for example.

My 68-year old mother had part of one lung removed due to cancer. She required blood transfusions, one of which was tainted with herpes simplex. Not cool.

[Jemian]

I’m very sorry for the death of your mother. Nothing can mitigate the suffering she endured nor the sorrow you feel.

But, if the only blood available to save someone is unscreened AND the patient will die without the blood, I would take that risk. Die today or maybe die tomorrow? That is the choice given sometimes.

Please accept my condolences for what your family has experienced. I wish that the suffering had not happened.

[trisham]

In short, would you want your child given a transfusion during a mass casualty on a battlefield? Just as important, would you want your child denied a transfusion because of suspect blood in the unit? Would you want to be a part of a unit where your blood could save the lives of unit members, but some blood in that unit no one would want to get near? Would that enhance morale?

********************

I had no idea that this was happening. Those who risk their lives for our country deserve far better; they deserve the very best of current medical practice.

In answer to your questions: No.

Thanks for posting this. I suspect that their are many like me who were completely unaware of this situation.

[wagglebee]

The mass casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan have been relatively small in terms of past wars involving America.

The walking blood supply is one of the important issues in any discussion of permitting open homosexuality in the military.

You are exactly right!

Additionally, there is NO REASON why the blood cannot be screened. The combined casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan do not even approach the casualties of single days in past wars. We have more than ample supplies of blood and the ability to screen it.

[Neoliberalnot]

Male homosexuals are the #1 vector for the spread of infectious disease and emerging antibiotic resistant bacteria in the US. Next time you give blood ask yourself why all the questions about homosexual behavior. The deviants will soon have the right to infect any child of their choosing and the law will protect them from prosecution.