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From: "Adam H. Kerman" <ahk@chinet.com>
Newsgroups: rec.arts.tv
Subject: Re: NHS tainted blood scandal
Date: Tue, 21 May 2024 19:30:45 -0000 (UTC)
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Rhino <no_offline_contact@example.com> wrote:
>Tue, 21 May 2024 09:01:16 -0000 (UTC) Adam H. Kerman <ahk@chinet.com>:

>>All hail socialized medicine. This is so much worse than the
>>subpostmaster scandal.

>Did you watch Mr Bates vs The Post Office when it aired on PBS last
>month? Just curious....

I discussed it on Usenet when I did.

>. . . 

>>. . . 

>We had a tainted blood scandal of our own and it was bad enough that
>the Red Cross got out of blood collection entirely; now the new
>Canadian Blood Services Agency does blood collection.

There was plenty of tainted blood in the United States too.

>After the original scandal died down, the blood supply has not been
>heavily discussed but every once in a while, I see articles to the
>effect that more of the restrictions against certain blood donors have
>been lifted. I haven't followed the details closely but homosexuals
>*are* apparently able to give blood now.

We never had a restriction on other than gay men as I recall, but they
made no distinction between those with risky sex habits and those
without. Not sure there was ever an issue with lesbians as communicable
disease spread is far more difficult.

>I'm not clear if their blood
>is actually tested for HIV/AIDS though or if they just have to give a
>pinky swear that they are not overly promiscuous and don't share IV
>needles.

If the blood from individual donors is tested BEFORE being commingled
and batched, I don't see why a restriction is necessary.

>I really need to find out about that because one fine day I
>could well end up needing a blood transfusion and I *really* don't
>want to get HIV/AIDS!! I know it is not the death sentence it was
>initially but I gather the treatment is not particularly pleasant and
>goes on for the rest of your life so I really want to avoid all that.

If it's elective surgery with enough lead time, then make arrangements
to store your own blood.