Support NeoGAF

[Thunder Monkey]

I use to very often to my local hospitals. Back when I use to do things, But my life has been really sedentary of late.

Which reminds me I missed our most recent donation.

 

[Juice]

Huh? I donate to a non-profit blood bank.

Right, which is then turned around and to a hospital, who (along with insurers) profit richly off the fact that you're willing to give them blood for free.

 

[slit]

Right, which is then turned around and to a hospital, who (along with insurers) profit richly off the fact that you're willing to give them blood for free.

So what's your solution? Let everyone bleed to death?

 

[Featheredkitten]

Yeah, but surely the risk is incredibly low compared to the often stated high demand ofr donors? A quick google says they are expecting 1000 cases from blood born prions in the UK.

Anyway, since I'm on the banned list anyway I don't really care, it just seems a bit over cautious.

There's a lot of...problems...with prion research. Long incubation period, lack of funds, etc.

 

[entremet]

Right, which is then turned around and to a hospital, who (along with insurers) profit richly off the fact that you're willing to give them blood for free.

Oh that angle.

I agree that US Healthcare is all sorts of messed up, but people still need blood all the time.

 

[killertofu]

Yep. Feels good man.

Plus free cookies and gatorade!

 

[Juice]

So what's your solution? Let everyone bleed to death?

Sell the blood. It's legal but the Red Cross has successfully made it taboo.

 

[Giard]

I'm not allowed to donate blood, although I would like to try it at least once.

 

[Leynos]

Ineligible as I had hepatitis A as a child. I'm not too torn up about it as I hate needles.

 

[Chance Hale]

I would but I spent 4 years in England as a youngling so they won't accept my blood. Last time I checked I was literally a few days over the cut off date as I moved there early October, 1996.

 

[slit]

Sell the blood. It's legal but the Red Cross has successfully made it taboo.

Some places do pay for plasma donations. I knew people that used it as an extra paycheck.

 

[entremet]

Sell the blood. It's legal but the Red Cross has successfully made it taboo.

I've only heard of selling plasma, not just blood itself.

 

[Juice]

Some places do pay for plasma donations. I knew people that used it as an extra paycheck.

Yup. As long as we live in a sleazy, for-profit health care system that denies coverage to those who can't pay, I view donating blood and organs as idiotic.

Edit: by "idiotic", I mean unethical. It enables the system and pads its profits. Everyone should withhold donations in protest until it's as free to receive blood as to give it.

 

[Mobius 1]

Yes. In fact, tomorrow is donation day.

 

[Dead Man]

Yup. As long as we live in a sleazy, for-profit health care system that denies coverage to those who can't pay, I view donating blood and organs as idiotic.

Is volunteering also idiotic? Since we live in a for profit world.

 

[HypnoDarkrai]

No.
Scared of needles D:

 

[Shadow2222]

I appreciate what the Red Cross and other organizations do, but they don't want my homosexual (completely clean, btw) blood, or I would donate regularly.

I want to donate, but I can't force myself to lie.

 

[isuzu]

Can't. Too skinny.

 

[cheststrongwell]

Some places do pay for plasma donations. I knew people that used it as an extra paycheck.

Yeah, I used to make around $250 a month. Track marks were the only reason I quit.

 

[R10Neymarfan]

I'm gay, so the Red Cross won't take my blood even I wanted to donate it -- which, incidentally, I don't. Being around needles makes me pass out.

I thought they didn't do that anymore. They just give you an HIV test on the spot.

 

[t26]

Not eligible, so no

 

[Juice]

Is volunteering also idiotic? Since we live in a for profit world.

Yeah, if you were a volunteer firefighter at a for-profit firehouse, you'd be an idiot. This extends to just about any volunteer at a for profit organization.

 

[Shadow2222]

I thought they didn't do that anymore. They just give you an HIV test on the spot.

I just tried to donate a month ago at my college and they turned me away.

 

[entremet]

Yeah, if you were a volunteer firefighter at a for-profit firehouse, you'd be an idiot. This extends to just about any volunteer at a for profit organization.

More firehouses are run by municipalities, not really for profit.

In those cases, they exist because lack of tax base, like rural areas.

 

[MrDenny]

There was a thread by an ex-gaf member who would donate his plasma every week in order to fund his video game collection.
Thread was pretty hilarious.

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=424059

 

[Juice]

More firehouses are run by municipalities, not really for profit.

In those cases, they exist because lack of tax base, like rural areas.

Yup, exactly. Giving something away, even if it's ultimately needed by a recipient, so that a middle man can profit off it, is foolish.

 

[Dead Man]

Yeah, if you were a volunteer firefighter at a for-profit firehouse, you'd be an idiot. This extends to just about any volunteer at a for profit organization.

What if it is not for profit but still charges the recipient, like a community hospital? Still stupid?

 

[Juice]

What if it is not for profit but still charges the recipient, like a community hospital? Still stupid?

Yup, non profit hospitals are a joke http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/08/01/why-non-profit-hospitals-are-so-profitable/

And even if it were somehow a completely egalitarian clinic, the insurers make a killing off it.

Edit: better link http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_23778803/hospitals-cant-have-it-both-ways

 

[Dead Man]

Yup, non profit hospitals are a joke http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/08/01/why-non-profit-hospitals-are-so-profitable/

And even if it were somehow a completely egalitarian clinic, the insurers make a killing off it.

Insurers will always make money in a health care system, you seem to have unrealistic expectations. I was also talking abouyt volunteering at a place like that. You seem to be arguing against almost every form of hospital volunteer.

 

[Juice]

Insurers will always make money in a health care system, you seem to have unrealistic expectations. I was also talking abouyt volunteering at a place like that. You seem to be arguing against almost every form of hospital volunteer.

Sure am. The only way to overhaul the system short of legislation is for everyone to stop giving away the services and materials that the industry needs to be profitable

 

[perroloco]

I cant, i had hepatitis A when i was a kid (is not very rare in mexico), so im banned forever to donate blood, strange if you ask me since im completely cured.



Im scare of needles anyway.

 

[Dead Man]

Sure am. The only way to overhaul the system is for everyone to stop giving away services and materials that the industry needs.

Good luck with that, I guess it's cool to withhold services from people that need it to make a point to somebody else :/

 

[Juice]

Good luck with that, I guess it's cool to withhold services from people that need it to make a point to somebody else :/

Yup.

 

[FUBAR McDangles]

I donate plasma twice a week almost every week. $55 guaranteed if I go both times and sometimes they have extra promotions to get ~$60-65 a week.

Pays for groceries and going to the movies, so that's nice.

 

[catmincer]

Would but not allowed to as gay. Oh well, I am a common type B+ so at least there is lots of other potential donors out there.

 

[Striek]

Yeah. Donated yesterday, reception made my next appointment on the spot.

 

[entremet]

Didn't know you could donate plasma so quickly. Pretty crazy.

 

[Pau]

Nope, I can't donate blood because of weight restrictions, and even less now that I get my blood checked so damn often.

 

[CarbonatedFalcon]

No. If not under weight restrictions, I'm probably close and it would certainly make me more faint/fatigued than the average donor which could have a fairly severe impact on day-to-day performance for however long it would take to recover.

 

[Wthermans]

I donate plasma bi-weekly.

 

[G. N. Arly]

Yeah actually!
I'm going for my first donation tomorrow. Always been something I wanted to do so I'm a anxious about it.

Hoping to make it a semi-regular thing.
I think you can only donate once a month in Canada.

I hear it's a bit of a social thing, too. Have you gotten to know the people who run your clinic through it Entrement?

 

[Pennybags]

Semi-regularly, yes. I'm going to give blood as soon as I am allowed to again and get dat free Outback Steakhouse dinner.

Last time, they were giving $10 Wal-Mart cards.

 

[Wthermans]

Yeah actually!
I'm going for my first donation tomorrow. Always been something I wanted to do so I'm a anxious about it.

Hoping to make it a semi-regular thing.
I think you can only donate once a month in Canada.

I hear it's a bit of a social thing, too. Have you gotten to know the people who run your clinic through it Entrement?

I know the requirement in the US for whole blood donation is 56 days. Plasma is 48 hours, but take ~2 hours.

 

[Cosmic Bus]

I thought they didn't do that anymore. They just give you an HIV test on the spot.

http://www.redcrossblood.org/donati...irements/eligibility-criteria-topic#lifestyle

Lifetime ban deferral still in effect.

 

[R10Neymarfan]

http://www.redcrossblood.org/donati...irements/eligibility-criteria-topic#lifestyle

Lifetime ban deferral still in effect.

Hmm... they seem pretty picky in general. Most of this stuff can apply to anyone. I doubt not one person is totally clean of any eligibility requirements unless they're like young, but then again not till age 16 or 17.

Doesn't matter for me because I never wanted to do this type of stuff or face needles

 

[G. N. Arly]

I know the requirement in the US for whole blood donation is 56 days. Plasma is 48 hours, but take ~2 hours.

Ahh right. That sounds more legit. It's the same here. I guess platelets take 56 days to renew.
How did you guys first decide to donate blood? I was hawked by a friendly dude at my local college. Turns out my college pledged 850 donations and I thought I'd help out.
oh! And they give you a neat donator card that has your blood information on it. I'd really like to know what blood type I am.

 

[ComputerMKII]

I'll do it when they start paying for it.

 

[kehs]

I used to all the time, like days within my eligibility.

Now I dont want to pass out.

 

[potam]

I've given twice: once for a pint of ice cream, and again for a shot at $1000 gift card.

But real talk, I'd probably do it any time it comes back to work. I'm not going to go out of my way to do it, because I'm an inconsiderate person.

 

[Brian Fellows]

Never. Not even in high school where you could get out of class for an hour.