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What's your stance on "donating" blood plasma? (lemmy.zip)

submitted 2 months ago by v4ld1z@lemmy.zip to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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I've had a little of a debate with a commenter recently where they've argued that "donating" (selling, in their words, because you can get money for it) your blood plasma is a scam because it's for-profit and you're being exploited.

Now, I only have my German lense to look at this, but I've been under the impression that donating blood, plasma, thrombocytes, bone marrow, whatever, is a good thing because you can help an individual in need. I get that, in the case of blood plasma, the companies paying people for their donations must make some kind of profit off that, else they wouldn't be able to afford paying around 25€ per donation. But I'm not sure if I'd call that a scam. People are all-around, usually, too selfish and self-centered to do things out of the goodness of their hearts, so offering some form of compensation seems like a good idea to me.

In the past, I've had my local hospital call me asking for a blood donation, for example, because of an upcoming surgery of a hospitalised kid that shares my blood group. I got money for that too.

What are your guys' thoughts on the matter? Should it be on donation-basis only and cut out all incentives - monetary or otherwise? Is it fine to get some form of compensation for the donation?

Very curious to see what you think

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[–] averyminya@beehaw.org 8 points 2 months ago (2 children)

You lack the cultural lens of America. About half of our country governs from the perspective of "why should I?" with the most negative and self-preserving mindset possible.

Why should I pay for others healthcare, even if it means they pay for mine? Why should I donate my blood if it doesn't benefit me?

Solve that problem by giving you $25-100 for your "donations"

[–] ADTJ 6 points 2 months ago (1 children)

100% and I'm sure you know this too but just to add to your point, I believe the US government spends more money per capita on healthcare than anywhere in Europe, so even under the "Why should I?" lens, the current approach costs individuals more because they have to pay for it in taxes and then also in insurance premiums, copay etc.

It's not just for the benefit of society as a whole, "you" as an individual would also be financially better off under a socialised system.

[–] Silentiea@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 2 months ago

The important part is that the individual people spend more per capita for worse healthcare, too. You, private citizen reading this, are worse off and are paying more than you would be with socialized medicine in this country. Pretty much no matter what level you're at, too.

[–] JovialMicrobial@lemm.ee 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

As someone from the US i always saw it as people can't afford to take time off to donate, so compensating them for their time makes it so they can afford to donate.

A few states make it illegal to be monetarily compensated for your blood or plasma, but others it's completely fine.

[–] averyminya@beehaw.org 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I'm sure.its a bit of that too, but I do feel like the ultimate reason is still, "well why are you taking time off to do something that isn't only benefitting you?"

basically the same mindset that created this culture is what developed compensation for our time, as opposed to just taking the loss for the day to do a good thing.

[–] JovialMicrobial@lemm.ee 2 points 2 months ago

That's a fair assessment, and I can definitely agree with that