Name Instructor Course Date Is Money Tainting The Plasma Supply? Thesis Money has surely tainted the plasma supply in several reasons. The introduction of plasma donation for money has brought conflict and disagreement in the plasma supply industry. As opposed to blood donation that is voluntarily done without pay, payment has been introduced in the donation of plasma. Patients donate their plasma for certain amounts of money as indicated by particular donation centers. There has been doubt on whether plasma from Mexican donors is safe or might contain pathogens. Plasma companies are buying plasma from poor donors at a cheap cost then selling it ten times more. Money has, therefore, made plasma supply more of a business rather than life-saving. Money in plasma supply has led to several conflicts between key players in the industry with weaker factories falling due to less pay. Donors’ health is also as risk because the poor donate too much for income. It is, therefore, evident that money has greatly tainted the supply of plasma to a greater degree (Pollack 1). With the introduction of money in the plasma supply system, Mexicans cross the border in order to donate their plasma in USA donor points. The number has increased drastically because the nation accepts many donations of plasma more than other countries.
However, suspense has emerged on the value and safety of the Mexican plasma. There is doubt as to whether it is safe for human consumption or not. The public is worried because there is a possibility that the plasma from Mexico might contain certain pathogens that are not found in the US. The possibility of contamination of the Mexican plasma cannot be ruled out. It is possible that dangerous pathogens might be present in Mexican plasma (Ross, 2). The beneficiaries of plasma products both in the US and internationally are, therefore, at danger of infection thanks to money in the plasma supply. Money has tainted the morality of the plasma supply industry because the donor companies have made it more of a business than lifesaving. For instance, some American plasma donation centers take plasma from donors at $30 and sell the same at $300 (Pollack 1). Logically, such companies do not target the welfare of the general public. Their aim is only to make money at the expense of the poor donors. Donation of plasma for money has, therefore, resulted to mistrust between the general public and the organizations that do the business. If not keenly checked, there is going to be a bigger crisis in the industry if money is still going to determine the fate of plasma supply. Conflict also looms between different players in the plasma supply industry. There are certain established firms such as Baxter and CSL. Such established players have dictated the supply of plasma by even threatening to punish other firms if they do not comply with their directives. The federal trade commission in response has gone as far as filing legal suits against the oligopolistic firms (Lovrien 23).
This is evidence of pure conflict in the industry due to the involvement of money. Certain plasma firms have also fallen because they do not have the money to pay their donors. The industry has been competitive in monetary terms such that companies that do not provide enough returns to donors are neglected. Money in the plasma industry has led to the excessive donation to the extent that donors’ health is at jeopardy. Some unemployed people have resolved to donate plasma so as to support their daily living. In the United States, one is allowed to donate plasma up to 104 times in a single year (Pollack 1). This rate is very high, and most people frequently donate regardless of their health status. Excessive donation leads to health deterioration and loss of body immunity. Most donors have, therefore, suffered health complications others even stopping the donation. To this effect, money has greatly tainted the supply of plasma due to the excessive donation leading to poor health of donors. Professionals and human rights organizations have strongly come out in opposition for the whole idea of money for plasma donation.
For instance, Dr. Roger, an immunologist in Omaha has referred to the trend as taking advantage of the economically weak individuals without taking into account their health status. Donation centers have been placed in middle class residential. Most attempts by the key players to convince the general public that not only the poor are targeted have proved futile. It is very evident from how plasma donations are carried out that only the poor flock at donations points to donate their precious plasma at cheap returns. Money is responsible for the eruption of all these mysteries in the plasma supply. Conclusion Money has caused suspense, mystery, conflict and all other vises related to the donation of plasma. By paying people for the plasma they donate, several hindrances have emerged in the plasma supply industry. Plasma supply firms have ventured into plasma supply as a business hence they do not care about the health status the donors. The firms are only interested in profit arising from the trade. The patients who are treated with plasma products are also vulnerable to diseases from plasma products. There is a threat of the presence of pathogens in the plasma donated by the Mexicans. Conflicts have also erupted between the leading firms in plasma supply and the federal authorities. All the expressed taints and conflicts in the plasma industry have been caused by the involvement of money in the sector (Pollack 1).
Work Cited
Ross, Anamaria I. The Anthropology of Alternative Medicine. Oxford: Berg, 2012. Internet resources .Lovrien, Everett W. Doctor Guilt?: Benefits of Medical Treatment Compared with Hazards - a Tradeoff. New York: iUniverse, 2010. Print.Pollack, Andrew. Is Money Tainting The Plasma Supply? Eagle Pass, Tex, 2010. Internet resources
