This Seems Like a Big Deal

 

This seems like a big stinkin’ deal. But what do I know?  Maybe the Ricochet team doctors can weigh on the elevated health risks this involves.

I myself had some health drama a few years ago, the survival from which involved needing to receive four units of blood.  So the question is not really academic, I guess.

Why, it’s almost as if mass institutional delusion could have a negative effect on public health or something.  Or maybe public health is just being made to take a backseat to the desire of American Red Cross execs to be viewed as some of the cool kids.  Maybe the decision-makers at the American Red Cross are such horrible people they’re willing to risk harming their neighbors just to get more “likes” on social media.

Sheesh.

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  1. BDB Inactive
    BDB
    @BDB

    Monstrous.

    • #1
  2. Phil Turmel Inactive
    Phil Turmel
    @PhilTurmel

    Evil.  Risking everyone for a small group’s “feelings”.

    • #2
  3. Dr. Bastiat Member
    Dr. Bastiat
    @drbastiat

    Holy Toledo.

    What’s most remarkable about that is that I presume they would defend their decision by saying that they are simply following the science.   

    Because religion is simply an irrational belief that what you imagine to be true is actually true.  That’s ridiculous, of course.

    That’s why they follow the science. 

    Wherever it leads.  Right.

    • #3
  4. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    I thought scientists were working on a blood surrogate . . .

    A friend of mine was scheduled to have an operation.  He was able to donate his own blood for the surgery (this was a long time ago).  I’ll be they won’t let you do that now on “principle” . . .

    • #4
  5. MarciN Member
    MarciN
    @MarciN

    Stad (View Comment):

    I thought scientists were working on a blood surrogate . . .

    A friend of mine was scheduled to have an operation. He was able to donate his own blood for the surgery (this was a long time ago). I’ll be they won’t let you do that now on “principle” . . .

    because you would be discriminating against other people . . . 

    • #5
  6. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    “Under the guidelines, biological sex can be fully self-declared???

    What the heck does that mean?

    • #6
  7. Buckpasser Member
    Buckpasser
    @Buckpasser

    Evil comes in many forms.

    • #7
  8. Doctor Robert Member
    Doctor Robert
    @DoctorRobert

    Incredibly stupid and dangerous.  

    • #8
  9. Old Bathos Member
    Old Bathos
    @OldBathos

    Donations are screened for HIV and hepatitis.  I don’t think the donations are separated by the (actual) sex of the donor so psychological identity disorders would not be relevant.  Gays who pass for straight and/or lie about recent sexual history have always been able to donate.  In truth, a grossly promiscuous hetero is also a less-than-ideal donor.

    Creating a weird trans exception to the rules governed by relative AIDS risk obviously makes no sense but very little does in Biden’s America.

    For a while when still in college, I had a night-shift job in the main Red Cross blood bank in DC  in the halcyon pre-AIDS era a half-century ago.  Not much happened on those shifts. Intoxicated cops often came by to grab some ice from the ample supplies for some post-shift parties. The rather strange gay phone operator used to put through the calls from cranks claiming to be Dracula coming down to make a withdrawal.  (Bela Lugosi is not that hard to mimic so it was annoying how bad those attempts were and how many idiots thought it was original).  When there were emergency calls from hospitals, there was some drama if we were low on the requested type–often calling on some great people (then and now) who served as walking donors and go where they are asked at all hours.  We covered a large region and even shipped blood by emergency police relay all the way to West Virginia.  DC cops handing off to VA a trooper who would speed all to way to the WVA line or county cops who did relays.  We usually did not know what the specific surgical emergency was but were instructed that if asked, to tell the police it was for heart surgery on an 11-year old girl because that would make the urgency of the mission more satisfying for them.

    A white-coated individual of questionable sobriety would come in and experiment on some samples testing for the “Australian antigen”, an early attempt to screen for hepatitis.  The real screening was barring (or dumping the donations of) skeezy-looking donors.  My confidence in the system was limited. There are no guarantees in life.  Risk is unavoidable.

     

    • #9
  10. Flicker Coolidge
    Flicker
    @Flicker

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    “Under the guidelines, biological sex can be fully self-declared???

    What the heck does that mean?

    I’m not sure, but I think it means that Red Cross has scientific reasons to prohibit sexually active men from donating blood, and so if you are a man and want to donate blood you can now scientifically say that you’re not a man, in order to legitimately get around the restrictions.

    • #10
  11. James Salerno Inactive
    James Salerno
    @JamesSalerno

    And the slippery slope argument remains undefeated.

    • #11
  12. Columbo Inactive
    Columbo
    @Columbo

    And when contrasted with their overkill on Covid, particularly stupid and conversely decided. Which only means that it is based on politics again, rather than medicine.

    • #12
  13. EB Thatcher
    EB
    @EB

    Flicker (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    “Under the guidelines, biological sex can be fully self-declared???

    What the heck does that mean?

    I’m not sure, but I think it means that Red Cross has scientific reasons to prohibit sexually active men from donating blood, and so if you are a man and want to donate blood you can now scientifically say that you’re not a man, in order to legitimately get around the restrictions.

    Well, the Red Cross is complying with this, but the recommendation  actually came from the FDA.  See Red Cross page on this.

    • #13
  14. BDB Inactive
    BDB
    @BDB

    Old Bathos (View Comment):
    I don’t think the donations are separated by the (actual) sex of the donor so psychological identity disorders would not be relevant. 

    What they’re saying is that gay sex with an insane man is now straight and will be risk-weighted accordingly, according to the people who maintain a huge blood bank.

     

    • #14
  15. Vance Richards Inactive
    Vance Richards
    @VanceRichards

    According to the article:

    there is a “window” of time during which blood donation screening may not detect the presence of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The window is “an approximate period of 7 to 10 days” for men who are not taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) or other antiretroviral medications. Other infectious diseases, such as Hepatitis C, may take up to a week to become detectable in donated blood.

    This is why they ask gay men if the have had sex within 3 months of donating blood. But if a man has a woman’s penis up his anus, rather than a man’s, that is OK according to the guidelines? This from folks who put a “We believe in Science” sign on their front lawn?

    • #15
  16. DaveSchmidt Coolidge
    DaveSchmidt
    @DaveSchmidt

    Stad (View Comment):

    I thought scientists were working on a blood surrogate . . .

    A friend of mine was scheduled to have an operation. He was able to donate his own blood for the surgery (this was a long time ago). I’ll be they won’t let you do that now on “principle” . . .

    In the name of justice, equity, and progress, Straight White Males will only be given trans-fusions of blood drawn exclusively from LGBTQ+ donors.  

    • #16
  17. Rodin Member
    Rodin
    @Rodin

    My extended family, living and dead, contain nearly two dozen medical doctors along with several more who would be considered medical auxiliaries. I am guessing that the dead ones are pleased not to be practicing anymore and the living ones have mixed feelings. 

    • #17
  18. Dr. Bastiat Member
    Dr. Bastiat
    @drbastiat

    Rodin (View Comment):
    My extended family, living and dead, contain nearly two dozen medical doctors

    Insanity is sometimes inherited…

    • #18
  19. Randy Weivoda Moderator
    Randy Weivoda
    @RandyWeivoda

    Stad (View Comment):

    I thought scientists were working on a blood surrogate . . .

    A friend of mine was scheduled to have an operation. He was able to donate his own blood for the surgery (this was a long time ago). I’ll be they won’t let you do that now on “principle” . . .

    I thought that this is routinely done.

    • #19
  20. tigerlily Member
    tigerlily
    @tigerlily

    Looks like the American Red Cross will not be receiving any more donations from me. 

    BTW, here’s a question for the those here who know a lot more about medicine than me. In addition to the HIV issue, a trans woman (i.e. a man trying to pass for a woman) is generally taking a number of drugs and hormones for that purpose and so these drugs and hormones are therefore in that person’s bloodstream. Do any of these drugs and hormones pose a health risk to a person receiving a blood transfusion from such a source?

    • #20
  21. Flicker Coolidge
    Flicker
    @Flicker

    DaveSchmidt (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    I thought scientists were working on a blood surrogate . . .

    A friend of mine was scheduled to have an operation. He was able to donate his own blood for the surgery (this was a long time ago). I’ll be they won’t let you do that now on “principle” . . .

    In the name of justice, equity, and progress, Straight White Males will only be given trans-fusions of blood drawn exclusively from LGBTQ+ donors.

    Will that make me LGPDQ+ as well?

    • #21
  22. Caryn Thatcher
    Caryn
    @Caryn

    Randy Weivoda (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    I thought scientists were working on a blood surrogate . . .

    A friend of mine was scheduled to have an operation. He was able to donate his own blood for the surgery (this was a long time ago). I’ll be they won’t let you do that now on “principle” . . .

    I thought that this is routinely done.

    It’s done for elective surgeries when the patient is in good enough shape to be able to regenerate the blood before the surgery and before the blood expiration date (5 weeks for refrigerated whole blood, longer if separated into components).  It’s a good plan for an anticipated hip replacement surgery or similar.  

    • #22
  23. Ekosj Member
    Ekosj
    @Ekosj

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    • #23
  24. Spin Inactive
    Spin
    @Spin

    Vance Richards (View Comment):

    According to the article:

    there is a “window” of time during which blood donation screening may not detect the presence of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The window is “an approximate period of 7 to 10 days” for men who are not taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) or other antiretroviral medications. Other infectious diseases, such as Hepatitis C, may take up to a week to become detectable in donated blood.

    This is why they ask gay men if the have had sex within 3 months of donating blood. But if a man has a woman’s penis up his anus, rather than a man’s, that is OK according to the guidelines? This from folks who put a “We believe in Science” sign on their front lawn?

    I’m gonna need you to wash your mouth out with some lifeboy.  ;-)

    • #24
  25. Spin Inactive
    Spin
    @Spin

    The only thing that remains is for Nero to head on down the the music store and pick up his fiddle.

    • #25
  26. DaveSchmidt Coolidge
    DaveSchmidt
    @DaveSchmidt

    Flicker (View Comment):

    DaveSchmidt (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    I thought scientists were working on a blood surrogate . . .

    A friend of mine was scheduled to have an operation. He was able to donate his own blood for the surgery (this was a long time ago). I’ll be they won’t let you do that now on “principle” . . .

    In the name of justice, equity, and progress, Straight White Males will only be given trans-fusions of blood drawn exclusively from LGBTQ+ donors.

    Will that make me LGPDQ+ as well?

    We will have to wait and see. 

    • #26
  27. Mad Gerald Coolidge
    Mad Gerald
    @Jose

    I am banned from giving blood because I lived in the UK during the mad cow disease outbreak (~1990).  Maybe if I tell the Red Cross I don’t identify as a mad cow they’ll accept me now.

    Also concerning is the authorities greenlighting blood transfusions from mRNA vaxxed donors.  Since the vaccine migrates to areas and organs it shouldn’t through the blood stream, I agree with those who want transfusions of mRNA free blood.

    Blood Centers Say Unvaccinated People Are Refusing Transfusions From ‘Tainted’ Donations

    New Zealand COVID Tyranny: Parents Refuse Vaccinated Blood for Child, State Threatens Custody

     

     

     

    • #27
  28. Spin Inactive
    Spin
    @Spin

    Mad Gerald (View Comment):

    I am banned from giving blood because I lived in the UK during the mad cow disease outbreak (~1990). Maybe if I tell the Red Cross I don’t identify as a mad cow they’ll accept me now.

    Also concerning is the authorities greenlighting blood transfusions from mRNA vaxxed donors. Since the vaccine migrates to areas and organs it shouldn’t through the blood stream, I agree with those who want transfusions of mRNA free blood.

    Blood Centers Say Unvaccinated People Are Refusing Transfusions From ‘Tainted’ Donations

    New Zealand COVID Tyranny: Parents Refuse Vaccinated Blood for Child, State Threatens Custody

     

     

     

    I’m in the same boat, but I’m told they relaxed those restrictions some time ago.  

    • #28
  29. Charlotte Member
    Charlotte
    @Charlotte

    Spin (View Comment):

    Mad Gerald (View Comment):

    I am banned from giving blood because I lived in the UK during the mad cow disease outbreak (~1990). Maybe if I tell the Red Cross I don’t identify as a mad cow they’ll accept me now.

    Also concerning is the authorities greenlighting blood transfusions from mRNA vaxxed donors. Since the vaccine migrates to areas and organs it shouldn’t through the blood stream, I agree with those who want transfusions of mRNA free blood.

    Blood Centers Say Unvaccinated People Are Refusing Transfusions From ‘Tainted’ Donations

    New Zealand COVID Tyranny: Parents Refuse Vaccinated Blood for Child, State Threatens Custody

    I’m in the same boat, but I’m told they relaxed those restrictions some time ago.

    The mad cow/UK restriction is still a thing. I check every couple of years because I haven’t been able to donate for decades.

    EDIT – Please see next comment

    • #29
  30. Charlotte Member
    Charlotte
    @Charlotte

    Charlotte (View Comment):

    Spin (View Comment):

    Mad Gerald (View Comment):

    I am banned from giving blood because I lived in the UK during the mad cow disease outbreak (~1990). Maybe if I tell the Red Cross I don’t identify as a mad cow they’ll accept me now.

    Also concerning is the authorities greenlighting blood transfusions from mRNA vaxxed donors. Since the vaccine migrates to areas and organs it shouldn’t through the blood stream, I agree with those who want transfusions of mRNA free blood.

    Blood Centers Say Unvaccinated People Are Refusing Transfusions From ‘Tainted’ Donations

    New Zealand COVID Tyranny: Parents Refuse Vaccinated Blood for Child, State Threatens Custody

     

     

     

    I’m in the same boat, but I’m told they relaxed those restrictions some time ago.

    The mad cow/UK restriction is still a thing. I check every couple of years because I haven’t been able to donate for decades.

    Whoops, I beg your pardon! Apparently the restrictions were lifted three months ago. Yay! 

    • #30
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