Exception to the Rule Needed

There’s a disorder called hemochromatosis in which extra iron builds up in the body. One treatment is for such people to donate their blood regularly. The good thing? The extra iron doesn’t come into their blood, so their blood can be infused into recipients without any risk. Nor is there any risk of transfer of genetic diseases.

 

Sounds perfect, right? Except the American Red Cross has a policy that:

“Potential donors are not allowed to receive direct compensation for their donation (beyond the usual orange juice and cookie).”

See how this becomes a problem?

“Because people with hemochromatosis would otherwise have to pay for their therapeutic phlebotomies (removing blood from them), they would in effect be getting something of value for being able to donate for free. Thus the Red Cross has ruled that such donations violate their policy.”

 

It gets even more weird. When a hemochromatosis patient pays to have his blood removed, most American agencies will throw it away. Instead of infusing it into someone.

 

While one can see the reason behind the rule (it’s to prevent coercive blood donation), surely by now, they could have added an exception to the rule…

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