Plasma donation

[bjj]

Is it unethical to donate your plasma for cash? I am in a situation where the funds would help tremendously pay our monthly bills. These bills are just the normal utilities and catholic tuition, not any cell phone for teenagers, internet or satellite.

 

[puzzleannie]

it would be a great act of generosity to donate rather than accept payment, but that does not make it wrong if paying for blood products is legal where you are.

 

[Blenderx]

Its time-consuming and you need to go multiple times before there is enough to use, so that is why you get paid. We are going to start doing it because we need the money right now. No shame in it. Drink lots of water and limit sodium the day before you go.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

I did this while in college. It is certainly time consuming–both for the process and the waiting time until they call your name.

There are no moral or ethical issues that I am aware of, but it may not be the best way to make money. Consider how much money you’ll make “per hour” from each visit. It may be worth it, another part-time job (if one is available) may be a better money-maker.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

My father sold his blood to help pay my mother’s hospital bills after she died. He probably could have gotten welfare help of some kind, but he had his pride and he took care of it himself, and kept our family together, and paid his bills in full.

There is no shame in this.

 

[Cat]

it would be a great act of generosity to donate rather than accept payment, but that does not make it wrong if paying for blood products is legal where you are.

When people donate plasma at plasma donation centers, the product is not used for transfusion to humans.

It is used to manufacture various products used in clinical laboratories; .e.g, the reagents we used to type blood.

That’s why it’s “legal” to donate plasma for cash.

Speaking as a laboratory professional (MT, ASCP), I am grateful to those who donate plasma at plasma donation centers, or who donate blood components at their local blood bank!

 

[SurlyMermaid]

Got plenty of plasma scars myself!

Look, you’re also helping society here. I don’t see why it would be unethical. Interesting question though.

 

[EasterJoy]

Is it unethical to donate your plasma for cash?

If you are in good health and follow the instructions given you, it is more like selling your hair than selling an organ. You make lots of plasma, and it doesn’t harm your body to make more.

Selling plasma is only unethical if you do something else unethical in order to do it, such as knowingly harming your own health, lying in order to be accepted, violating the law, or that sort of thing. Otherwise, is OK. You can do it by choice instead of out of necessity and you could use the money for any ethical use.

 

[bjj]

Thanks for the replies, I am going to check it out this weekend.