One would hope that he used the anonymous opt-out so that his blood would not be used for a transfusion. I have been giving blood, every 8 weeks, in New Jersey for about ten years. (I always say, why have a cholesterol problem when you can just give it away to others?) New Jersey Blood Services has a place on the form where the donor places one of two bar codes, one of which indicates that it his blood should be used for transfusion, and one which indicates the donor may have a risk factor and the blood should not be used for transfusion. This is a safeguard to permit a person who may be under pressure to donate to prevent others from being injured. The placement of the sticker is done privately and nobody can tell by looking at them which is which.
Given this procedure, one would hope that Jim McGreevey took advantage of it. There is no way to know for sure, of course.
Interesting. The way I read your sentence is that someone may be under pressure to donate blood in order to prevent others from being injured. Such as- give blood now or you'll never see your family again.
I imagine that is not what you mean and that what you are saying is that someone may be under pressure from co-workers, employers, etc. to give blood and that a process exists for the potential donor to still donate blood but also mark on a form that his/her blood should not be used. Thus, the donor looks like a good citizen, no one gets hurt, and everyone is happy.
Also- if someone that donates blood opts out so that their blood is not used for transfusion, is the blood used for anything at all? Or is it discarded?