• hemko@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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          2 months ago

          There really should be a community for “Weird america” or something.

          I live in Europe, and I donate blood because it’s the fucking right thing to do. Everyone knows someone whose life was saved by a random donor, and every time you donate blood you’re saving someone’s life.

          Like there’s literally no reason to not donate it if your body allows it

          • Soulg@sh.itjust.works
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            2 months ago

            I’m American and I donate/sell plasma twice a week. $110 each week which is nice extra money for the time, plus I can help people. It’s a win/win as far as I’m concerned.

            • Knock_Knock_Lemmy_In@lemmy.world
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              2 months ago

              $110 each week which is nice extra money for the time

              Ah, maybe this is the scam.

              Q1. What volume of blood is worth $110?

              Q2. How much does the medical industry charge for the same type/quantity?

              • Soulg@sh.itjust.works
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                2 months ago
                1. Don’t know, because I said plasma, not blood.

                2. Don’t know, don’t care.

                You’re obviously getting at what the companies make versus what they give me, and yes, they make far more than they give me. The margins are quite high. The machines are also very expensive from what I’ve been told.

                Like I told the other person, stop being weird. If you don’t want to do it or think it’s not worth your time, don’t do it.

                • Knock_Knock_Lemmy_In@lemmy.world
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                  2 months ago

                  Like I told the other person, stop being weird.

                  I don’t think it’s weird to consider that the US medical industry is possibly exploiting people through predatory business practices.

                  If you don’t want to do it or think it’s not worth your time, don’t do it.

                  OK. And maybe look into the choices of who gets your goods.

            • Firestorm Druid@lemmy.zip
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              2 months ago

              Unnecessarily loaded comment. Plasma is used in creating drugs that help people. So you help people. How’s it bad?

              • snooggums@lemmy.world
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                2 months ago

                The setup preys on the poor, and wouldn’t exist if we had living wages. Then people could donate because it is the right thing to do, not because they need to make rent.

                • Firestorm Druid@lemmy.zip
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                  2 months ago

                  The thing is, the monetary incentive is necessary because there are not enough people donating - plasma, blood, whatever. So if that’s what’s needed to get people to donate (or whatever else word you want to use), then that’s fine in my books. Both sides get something.

                  I get the idea of wanting it to be on donation-basis only, but people don’t donate for free as often as when they do *get money. Because society is inherently selfish and doesn’t care for the needs of others.

                  Again, the service the companies provide is directly beneficial to society. Yes, big pharma is a thing and medicine should be free. But what’s not how things work. So what’s the problem?

    • Firestorm Druid@lemmy.zip
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      2 months ago

      I mean, all I have to do is drink a bunch of water before my appointment - like 2 litres, maybe - eat a little and I’m set. Human bodies regenerate blood plasma within days, else you’d not be able to physically sustain donations twice a week, so the only thing I’m losing is my time, which I can spend on my phone.

      Not even touching upon the societal and medicinal benefits of donating blood and plasma, I don’t see what I’m losing here.

      What’s your stance on donating bone marrow and thrombocytes?