Give Blood. It may save a life...YOURS!
Apr 13, 2012, 12:08 pm
#331
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: in the vicinity of SFO
Programs: AA 2MM (LT-PLT, PPro for this year)
Posts: 19,781
1) I've got too many ethical qualms about how the medical community applies the criteria for "death" and "brain death" in organ donation, and the accompany risk (though very small) of accelerating my own death. This would apply to any tissue donation done before full cardiac death.
2) My impression is that most forms of tissue donation are done after full cardiac death, but unlike blood donation (which is lifesaving, and well-regulated), many of these products are less clearly lifesaving and represent a less clearly well-regulated, for-profit industry.
Similarly, I'd like to think I'd have the strength to refuse a non-live organ donation even if lifesaving, and I've actually been in a position to frustrate my doctor by saying I would not accept a human tissue product where she thought it would be better for surgery than using an autologous graft.
Neither of these objections apply to a close family member for whom I might be a match needed a live donation (kidney or liver lobe,) nor blood donation, nor bone marrow donation.
Apr 13, 2012, 2:00 pm
#332
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Either at the shooting range or anywhere good beer can be found...
Posts: 51,030
I'd be happy to debate this in more length in OMNI/PR, but in really short form:
1) I've got too many ethical qualms about how the medical community applies the criteria for "death" and "brain death" in organ donation, and the accompany risk (though very small) of accelerating my own death. This would apply to any tissue donation done before full cardiac death.
2) My impression is that most forms of tissue donation are done after full cardiac death, but unlike blood donation (which is lifesaving, and well-regulated), many of these products are less clearly lifesaving and represent a less clearly well-regulated, for-profit industry.
Similarly, I'd like to think I'd have the strength to refuse a non-live organ donation even if lifesaving, and I've actually been in a position to frustrate my doctor by saying I would not accept a human tissue product where she thought it would be better for surgery than using an autologous graft.
Neither of these objections apply to a close family member for whom I might be a match needed a live donation (kidney or liver lobe,) nor blood donation, nor bone marrow donation.
1) I've got too many ethical qualms about how the medical community applies the criteria for "death" and "brain death" in organ donation, and the accompany risk (though very small) of accelerating my own death. This would apply to any tissue donation done before full cardiac death.
2) My impression is that most forms of tissue donation are done after full cardiac death, but unlike blood donation (which is lifesaving, and well-regulated), many of these products are less clearly lifesaving and represent a less clearly well-regulated, for-profit industry.
Similarly, I'd like to think I'd have the strength to refuse a non-live organ donation even if lifesaving, and I've actually been in a position to frustrate my doctor by saying I would not accept a human tissue product where she thought it would be better for surgery than using an autologous graft.
Neither of these objections apply to a close family member for whom I might be a match needed a live donation (kidney or liver lobe,) nor blood donation, nor bone marrow donation.
Thanks for sharing, and I understand your views.
Apr 17, 2012, 1:17 pm
#333
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Home Airports: CAE/CLT
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, National Executive
Posts: 5,452
I wish I could once again give blood.
Sadly I lived in Germany in the early-mid 90s and the American Red Cross has deemed me unclean. Something about the possibility of Mad Cow Disease.
Sadly I lived in Germany in the early-mid 90s and the American Red Cross has deemed me unclean. Something about the possibility of Mad Cow Disease.
Jun 8, 2012, 12:47 pm
#335
Moderator: Smoking Lounge; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: Lifetime (for now) Gold MM, HH Gold, Giving Tootsie Pops to UA employees, & a retired hockey goalie
Posts: 28,877
Donating blood as we speak
Pint# 79
Pulse 76
BP 118/65
Blood type red
Next donation is a 10 Gallon Hat
Edited to add: My 22,000th post
Pint# 79
Pulse 76
BP 118/65
Blood type red
Next donation is a 10 Gallon Hat
Edited to add: My 22,000th post
Last edited by goalie; Jun 8, 2012 at 2:30 pm Reason: Added post milestone
Jun 8, 2012, 1:19 pm
#337
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Orlando, FL, US
Programs: DL-Dirt Medallion;US-Cast Iron Preferred; HH-Gold; Avis First
Posts: 3,617
Early congrats on the 10 gallon. My next donation will take me to 5, but I don't really need another pin to go in the junk drawer with the 3 and 4 gallon ones. I think something a nice pint glass would be appropriate, since that would give an exact refill for how much they take
Jun 8, 2012, 2:30 pm
#338
Moderator: Smoking Lounge; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: Lifetime (for now) Gold MM, HH Gold, Giving Tootsie Pops to UA employees, & a retired hockey goalie
Posts: 28,877
Early congrats on the 10 gallon. My next donation will take me to 5, but I don't really need another pin to go in the junk drawer with the 3 and 4 gallon ones. I think something a nice pint glass would be appropriate, since that would give an exact refill for how much they take
Jun 8, 2012, 3:30 pm
#339
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Orlando, FL, US
Programs: DL-Dirt Medallion;US-Cast Iron Preferred; HH-Gold; Avis First
Posts: 3,617
Jun 8, 2012, 11:48 pm
#340
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: IAD, and sometimes OMNI/PR. Currently: not far from IAD, but home will always be SAN (not far from the "touch my junk and I'll have you arrested" Memorial TSA Check Point) even if I'm not there so much these days.
Programs: UA, CO, Calcifer Award for Mad Haiku Skillz
Posts: 5,076
Jun 9, 2012, 9:56 am
#341
Moderator: Smoking Lounge; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: Lifetime (for now) Gold MM, HH Gold, Giving Tootsie Pops to UA employees, & a retired hockey goalie
Posts: 28,877
Jul 7, 2012, 9:26 am
#343
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Orlando, FL, US
Programs: DL-Dirt Medallion;US-Cast Iron Preferred; HH-Gold; Avis First
Posts: 3,617
I'd love to give blood, but I am in a country where they don't want blood from gay men (UK). The ban was partially lifted last year, but only those who have had sex with another man in the past 12 months. I know it is possible to lie, but that does not sit well with me. Commence the flaming and criticism, no doubt.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/06/health...html?hpt=hp_c1
Just donated my 40th pint a couple of days ago.
Jul 7, 2012, 9:51 am
#344
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: WAS
Posts: 3,006
I've switched to donating platelets, I think? I'm AB+. I moved at the end of last summer, and after my first donation at my new home I got a call from the Red Cross asking if I could come and specifically donate platelets, since AB+ is the universal donor for that (and plasma). Since then I've given platelets twice. Unfortunately, donating platelets takes a couple hours, plus about 30 minutes each way to the donation site, so it's a little tricky to arrange on my end. I'm up to around 14 pints of blood--I really should keep better track.
Jul 9, 2012, 10:04 am
#345
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Indianapolis, IN USA
Posts: 2,065
Overdue (they were calling and emailing - yikes!).
Last Donation: Date: 07/02/2012
Type: Whole Blood
Location: Fishers [IN]
Last Cholesterol: 214
DonorPoint Rewards: Member Since: 04/04/2008
Level: Gold
Store Points: 3,250
Year to Date: Credits: 3
Gallons: 3/8 th(s)
Lifetime to Date: Credits: 34
Gallons: 4 & 2/8 th(s)
Eligibility: Whole Blood: 08/27/2012
Double Red Cells: 08/27/2012
Last Donation: Date: 07/02/2012
Type: Whole Blood
Location: Fishers [IN]
Last Cholesterol: 214
DonorPoint Rewards: Member Since: 04/04/2008
Level: Gold
Store Points: 3,250
Year to Date: Credits: 3
Gallons: 3/8 th(s)
Lifetime to Date: Credits: 34
Gallons: 4 & 2/8 th(s)
Eligibility: Whole Blood: 08/27/2012
Double Red Cells: 08/27/2012
