Selling plasma

[Lemurone]

I "donate" things to Goodwill and then get a tax credit. I "donate" things to the local foster kids' charity and take a tax credit. Is that wrong since I'm benefiting financially?
The most important thing anyone on this thread has said seems to be ignored, and that is that "donate" means something different in the medical field. This should really end the conversation.
do·nate
ˈdōˌnāt/
verb

1. give (money or goods) for a good cause, for example to a charity.
   "the proceeds will be donated to an AIDS awareness charity"
   synonyms: give, give/make a donation of, contribute, make a contribution of, gift,pledge, grant, bestow; More
   
   • allow the removal of (blood or an organ) from one's body for transplantation, transfusion, or other use.

 

[Dakota731]

To all the critics out there how often are you donating blood or plasma? It's desperately needed so until you are giving yours for no compensation then I think you should mind your own business.

 

[kymom99]

If you don't give your social security number, they won't send you anything. I don't know if you do or not, but my guess is that it is anonymous and they don't have to report it to the IRS.

 

[DawnM]

I found this on a google search.

http://plasmadonating.blogspot.com/2014/06/do-you-have-to-pay-taxes-on-plasma.html

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

If you don't give your social security number, they won't send you anything. I don't know if you do or not, but my guess is that it is anonymous and they don't have to report it to the IRS.

Donating whole blood is positively NOT anonymous. I can't answer for plasma-only donations but I doubt it.
They don't have my SSN but they do have my name, address, DOB, and long questionnaire about past diseases, sexual habits, tattoos, vaccines, accidental needle sticks, international travel, time spent in jail, IV drug use, etc.
All of these, if answered honestly, makes donating safer for the recipient and insures the donor isn't compromised by giving. They check BP, temp, pulse, resp rate, & hemoglobin level by finger stick first. Occasionally, depending on my monthly cycle, my hemoglobin is slightly low and I'm deferred for my own health. Men rarely have this issue so dh and ds18 give every time the Red Cross comes to their work/school.

The first few cc's collected goes into a separate pouch for testing. If for some reason my blood showed something that makes it unusable they would notify me. I would assume the RC follows a similar protocol.

 

[kymom99]

Donating whole blood is positively NOT anonymous. I can't answer for plasma-only donations but I doubt it.
They don't have my SSN but they do have my name, address, DOB, and long questionnaire about past diseases, sexual habits, tattoos, vaccines, accidental needle sticks, international travel, time spent in jail, IV drug use, etc.
All of these, if answered honestly, makes donating safer for the recipient and insures the donor isn't compromised by giving. They check BP, temp, pulse, resp rate, & hemoglobin level by finger stick first. Occasionally, depending on my monthly cycle, my hemoglobin is slightly low and I'm deferred for my own health. Men rarely have this issue so dh and ds18 give every time the Red Cross comes to their work/school.

The first few cc's collected goes into a separate pouch for testing. If for some reason my blood showed something that makes it unusable they would notify me. I would assume the RC follows a similar protocol.

I meant anonymous as in they don't report it to anyone outside the place that is taking it. Not like you come in off the street and don't tell them who you are.

 

[crisi]

To all the critics out there how often are you donating blood or plasma? It's desperately needed so until you are giving yours for no compensation then I think you should mind your own business.

Every six weeks, but I haven't criticized. However, I DO disagree that what you do when you trade plasma for money is "donating" it. You are being compensated for your time - and being compensated by people selling your plasma into a very profitable industry. That's very different than donating your blood to the Red Cross. And its different than donating your old clothes to Goodwill for a tax deduction.

I don't sell plasma because I donate blood, and selling plasma makes me ineligible to donate. I don't need the money, therefore I'm willing to donate rather than sell. If I needed money, I might feel differently.

 

[indimom]

Seriously? This "issue" bugs people?


to all the donors out there who take time out of their life to change a life.


And I hope the family enjoys their vacation.

 

[Marionnette]

Every six weeks, but I haven't criticized. However, I DO disagree that what you do when you trade plasma for money is "donating" it. You are being compensated for your time - and being compensated by people selling your plasma into a very profitable industry. That's very different than donating your blood to the Red Cross. And its different than donating your old clothes to Goodwill for a tax deduction.

I don't sell plasma because I donate blood, and selling plasma makes me ineligible to donate. I don't need the money, therefore I'm willing to donate rather than sell. If I needed money, I might feel differently.

You're looking at the definition of the word from a philanthropic perspective. The word is different in a medical context.

For instance, some people will have whole blood taken and placed on reserve for their own use during a medical procedure. Those persons are referred to as "autologous donors". Are they actually "donating" anything? Not from a philanthropic perspective. But from a medical perspective, they are.

But regardless of whether you donate for philanthropic reasons or for monetary gain, I thank all of you. More than one of my family members has benefited from your "donation".

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Every six weeks, but I haven't criticized. However, I DO disagree that what you do when you trade plasma for money is "donating" it. You are being compensated for your time - and being compensated by people selling your plasma into a very profitable industry. That's very different than donating your blood to the Red Cross. And its different than donating your old clothes to Goodwill for a tax deduction.

I don't sell plasma because I donate blood, and selling plasma makes me ineligible to donate. I don't need the money, therefore I'm willing to donate rather than sell. If I needed money, I might feel differently.

The CEO of the Red Cross makes $500,000/year. That's more than the President of the USA. I'm not anti-RC, but they sure do well for a 'non-profit'.

 

[crisi]

The CEO of the Red Cross makes $500,000/year. That's more than the President of the USA. I'm not anti-RC, but they sure do well for a 'non-profit'.

Most CEOs of non-profits do. But he'd make $3M a year as the CEO of a for profit corporation of that size - or more.

The CEO of Baxter - which owns Bio Life, makes $16M a year. I think the head of the Red Cross (and the President of the United States) are probably underpaid relatively speaking.

 

[crisi]

You're looking at the definition of the word from a philanthropic perspective. The word is different in a medical context.

For instance, some people will have whole blood taken and placed on reserve for their own use during a medical procedure. Those persons are referred to as "autologous donors". Are they actually "donating" anything? Not from a philanthropic perspective. But from a medical perspective, they are.

But regardless of whether you donate for philanthropic reasons or for monetary gain, I thank all of you. More than one of my family members has benefited from your "donation".

Yep, I am - because MOST people "donating" plasma don't have a medical background - they understand the word only in its common philanthropic connotation - hence you get the people comparing it to giving clothes to Goodwill and taking a tax donation upthread. In that context, you sell your plasma - there is nothing charitable about it - its capitalism. I certainly don't have an issue with that. But how many people who sell plasma would give it away if they weren't getting paid? From the empty stations at the Red Cross donation center every six weeks - not many.

 

[lauradis]

I meant anonymous as in they don't report it to anyone outside the place that is taking it. Not like you come in off the street and don't tell them who you are.

Actual the Center I go to shares personal information with the other centers in the area.

Plus they have a long list of people that are on the band list with name, address, driver license numbers.

 

[Dakota731]

That's very different than donating your blood to the Red Cross.

No it's not - our local Red Cross gives gift cards for donating. They say people will still give without the incentive but they give more often with a reward so not much different in my eyes. If there is a need and a gift makes people step up, then what's the big deal?

 

[pryncess527]

No it's not - our local Red Cross gives gift cards for donating. They say people will still give without the incentive but they give more often with a reward so not much different in my eyes. If there is a need and a gift makes people step up, then what's the big deal?

Won't lie, I'm pretty jealous of that! I donate blood to the Red Cross every 8 weeks like clockwork, but usually only get a cookie/juice. Sometimes a local Chick-fil-A or Jimmy Johns will have coupons for a free sandwich that donors can take, but for the most part we do not get any type of incentive.

 

[limpy]

Won't lie, I'm pretty jealous of that! I donate blood to the Red Cross every 8 weeks like clockwork, but usually only get a cookie/juice. Sometimes a local Chick-fil-A or Jimmy Johns will have coupons for a free sandwich that donors can take, but for the most part we do not get any type of incentive.

Same with our RC - my husband has never received a gift card for any of the 100+ times he donated. Juice/cookies, and maybe a coupon for ice cream once or twice a year.

 

[mylittlebuttercup]

I don't see a problem with it though it does creep me out (but needles, hospitals, etc all do). I just wish they paid the equivalent for what it costs someone to receive it. I had to,receive 3 pints after an emergency 2 years ago and it was $500 per pint. That was the cost of blood only, not the hospital stay, other tools and equipment. Now when the school I work at has blood drives with the students I like to remind them that what they are donating for free, someone else will have to pay $500 for. Our local blood bank even has a program that if the students donate x amount in a certain time frame, they receive a cord (like honors cords) to wear at graduation. Now that I have a big issue with.

You have an issue with them being recognized for saving lives?

 

[mylittlebuttercup]

Donate = make a gift of
Sell = to exchange or deliver for money or its equivalent
Legal or not, there's something unethical about selling body parts - even those that regenerate.

Oh, okay, so it is better for there to end up being a shortage of life saving medicines produced using plasma than for people to make some money helping to save people's lives? Get off your high horse. If you have a problem with it, don't donate plasma yourself. Don't shame other people who would do it.

(I have never done it personally, but I applaud those who do and feel that compensation is fine.)

 

[pryncess527]

You have an issue with them being recognized for saving lives?

I agree with you. I can't fathom why anyone would object to that.

I can't think of a better way to foster people who will donate for life, than to recognize young people who make this effort. My dad was a heart patient who needed many, many units of blood in his too-short life, so donating was important to me from the minute I was old enough to do so -- I love that the Red Cross is fostering a generation of young people who might understand the important need and make this a regular part of their lives from high school on. If getting to wear a cord gets even 1 kid to donate, that's a win in my book. Getting that first donation can be such a hurdle, but often once people do it once, they realize it's not that bad and are willing to do it more

(I do understand for some people, donating is NOT easy -- I just mean that for many, it might be easy if they bothered to find out. I'm lucky that it is easy for me. I have some easy to find veins)

 

[mylittlebuttercup]

I agree with you. I can't fathom why anyone would object to that.

I can't think of a better way to foster people who will donate for life, than to recognize young people who make this effort. My dad was a heart patient who needed many, many units of blood in his too-short life, so donating was important to me from the minute I was old enough to do so -- I love that the Red Cross is fostering a generation of young people who might understand the important need and make this a regular part of their lives from high school on. If getting to wear a cord gets even 1 kid to donate, that's a win in my book. Getting that first donation can be such a hurdle, but often once people do it once, they realize it's not that bad and are willing to do it more

(I do understand for some people, donating is NOT easy -- I just mean that for many, it might be easy if they bothered to find out. I'm lucky that it is easy for me. I have some easy to find veins)

I wish my veins were easy to find! They have a hard enough time finding them to get blood drawn for a physical; I can't imagine how hard it would be to donate. I need to just suck it up and try it though!