Posted on 11/30/2005 5:51:46 PM PST by Ellesu
Just last year my mother had to have massive blood transfusions to save her life. I did not want her to get blood bank blood. I wanted to donate it myself, so that we would know it was okay. They wouldn't let me, because of all of the tests that would have to be done to see if it was compatible, and she needed it immediately.
Funny thing is, a hundred years ago there was no AIDS, so it wouldn't have been a worry. But a hundred years ago she would have died because they didn't do transfusions.
Are things really so bad nowadays, or do we just have different problems?
Possibly...but then consider that Tedy Bruschi of the New England Patriots, was only 27 when he had a stroke. And he is the canonical picture of health in every respect.
Having a stroke typically means untreated high blood pressure and other conditions involving blood clots.
I had to have half a dozen transfusions after cancer surgery and subsequent pulmonary surgery.
Boo.
It was Russian Roulette. I was in no state of mind or body to make a decision such as that, but I had to make a decision-and lived with a shadow over my shoulder, giving life three more times with the specter of death.
My father absolutely refused our kidneys. He lived 3 years on dialysis.
There is a time to live, a time to die.
I didn't say I wouldn't do it, but I still think it's a little weird, consuming other people's by products.
Kind of a funny story. I used to know this old lady when I was a kid who had really bad arthritis. She had surgery on her hands, and they removed her knuckles, replacing them with cadaver knuckles. She always wore gloves after that, because she couldn't stand touching things with other peoples "parts".
I thought that was sooooooooo creepy!
Me, I'm just grateful that there were people willing to part with some of their blood to help out a vulgar grump like myself.
The whole argument is based on an attempt to force the general population to accept homosexuality on an equal footing with being normal.
Here's the facts - around 2% of the population is homosexual (some studies are even less, and the 2% figure includes bisexuals). So, 98% of the population is not homosexual. Therefore, 98% of the population are not automatically rejected as donors. Many are rejected for other reasons, all legitimate. Additionally, homosexuals have a much, MUCH higher rate of HIV infection. Anyone who gets HIV positve blood OR ORGANS will get AIDS.
What part of that don't you understand?
And since a person who has recently been infected (or may be taking certain kinds of drugs) will not test positve even though they may be able to infect others, any blood or organs from a man who has sex with men is very, very dangerous. No one in their right mind would want to go through the pain, trouble, expense and risk of organ transplantation knowing that the organ they receive may give them AIDS.
I know two people who got Hep C from blood transfusions. Are they happy about it? What do you think? Would they rather have gotten untainted blood? What do you think? They both feel lucky they didn't get AIDS, but Hep C is no picnic, either.
Of course, no health care workers should be required to expose themselves to the added risks that participating in such a transfer would represent.
We lived in Britain for a year in the early 80's. Won't take blood from either of us. Can't blame the blood banks, too afraid of lawsuits.
I worked at a major teaching hospital for many years. I once engaged in a debate/discussion with an RN who worked in my department.This guy was,unlike a good percentage of male nurses,a normal heterosexual.
My position in the debate was that health care workers have an absolute right to know the HIV status of their patients and that patients have the same right to know the status of all heath care workers who treat them.
He disagreed...claiming that HIV status should always remain confidential.
I left the hospital soon after this debate and,not long after my departure,I learned that another nurse in my department contracted AIDS *and* Hepatitis C from a needle stick.I wonder what the nurse with whom I debated thinks about the subject now!
Glad you are still with us, you vulgar grump. ; )
And of course if you are giving blood to help others, you should have no problem being reject because of the higher risk of not helping we pose. I guess one one might be more embarrassed by some reasons for the higher risk than living in the UK, but I thought all homosexuals were proud of their behaviors these days.
I like that symbol... kind of counteracts the frenzy of the symbolmaniacal leftists. Can we get a bumperstick made?
that's "bumper sticker". :>
buncha' whiners.
This is indicative of the entire selfishness of this pc crap. Just as we did with those with TB, AIDS patients should be isolated. DUH.
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