Go DONATE plasma (or whole blood) at Canadian Blood Services. The tainted blood scandal of the early 80s had a couple of underlying causes, but at the core was that not enough Canadians were donating which led to two major problems.

1. We started buying blood - and who did we buy blood from? The Americans - who sent us blood that was collected from prison inmates as a way for them to earn credit at the commissary, among other high risk sources. This blood was deemed too risky for domestic use, but just fine to sell to Canada, the UK, etc.

2. For profit collection in general - this disproportionately preys on marginalized groups AND it incentivizes EVERYONE to lie. The first question on the donor questionnaire is 'Are you feeling well today'. If you are dependent on the $50 or whatever you will get from that donation, then you are way more likely to rationalize that the way you have been feeling lately is just allergies.

The recommendations of Tainted Blood Inquiry were:

1. blood is a public resource;
2. no one should be paid to donate blood or plasma;
3. Canada should collect enough blood and components to satisfy its own needs;
4. citizens should have free and universal access to blood components and products; and
5. safety of the blood supply is paramount.

Grifols (the paid plasma company) permits plasma collection at double the maximum frequency of Canadian Blood Services, they sell resulting blood products overseas without donor consent, and they seem to be getting repeatedly cited for failure to follow standards for collection. MAKE THESE TURDS UNNECESSARY BY DONATING.

If you are healthy, eligible, and can, go donate plasma (or whole blood). If you are in Calgary, and nervous, you are welcome to join me on my next donation (Thursday) to see what's involved.