US BLOOD SUPPLY Adverse reactions resulted before blood quarantined

The federal Food and Drug Administration says about half a dozen adverse reactions, including one death, have occurred after blood transfusions from bags linked to blood recently quarantined in Nashville and Atlanta.

The agency stressed that it's unclear whether the reactions, which have included a bacterial infection and an allergic reaction, were caused by possible contaminants in the bags or routine complications.

Hey ... I have an idea.

Has anyone ever considered blood donation as a way for U.S. prisoners to earn a little cash or -- in some states -- time off for the good behavior that is donating to the for-profit biologicals arm of the Red Cross?

Particularly given the open-ended nature of our "War on Terror", probably a good idea to nail down a steady supply.

And, taking a page from our friends the Chicoms, prisoners -- particularly in Texas or Florida -- might also be a good source for organ donation.

Statistical information from extensive earlier experiments along precisely the lines you suggest would indicate that convicts can be bled (plasmapheresis) four times a week before you have to dispose of them in a shallow grave behind the prison farm. You don't have to pay them anything. Giving blood donors a few harmless pain pills like Percodan (aspirin plus codeine) will keep them happy, well-behaved -- and lining up for blocks to donate again.

Note that donors will quickly become cross-contaminated with the usual fatal jailhouse bugs such as Hepatitis C, syphilis and AIDS. This saves taxpayers the expense and bother of long-term incarceration for these hard-core cons. Donated blood need not be purified in these cases -- another large cost saving -- because, y'know, who will find out? These cons aren't going to tell anyone or go anywhere (except to their own shallow graves out back).

This is, as I say, accurate information based on historical experience in Arkansas, Louisiana and other states. Hope it helps.

Good grief ... you mean states REALLY DO bleed prisoners like cattle? Do you think the American public ought to know this?

Note that donors will quickly become cross-contaminated with the usual fatal jailhouse bugs such as Hepatitis C, syphilis and AIDS. This saves taxpayers the expense and bother of long-term incarceration for these hard-core cons.

I'm glad you bring this up. Living in a magnet community for homosexuals, I have watched with great interest the activity at the infectious and tropical diseases arms of our local research/university hospitals and massive Charity Hospital. Because I know for a fact most of them didn't have insurance, it intrigued me the way some in the gay community around me almost were recruited for therapeutic treatments there.

They received the latest medicines and therapies gratis.

I couldn't shake the feeling they were being used as guinea pigs only without the upfront notice that is an ad in the paper for test subjects. Some of them even alluded to the fact they were taking untested and as yet unmarketed drug cocktails. Desperation's a decided motivation.

I guess I feel the same about the prison medical centers. Texas's program for liver transplants and AIDs treatment was featured a couple years ago on some news program.

Of late, there is this UPI story which suggests -- to me, anyway -- the fact some are thinking very strongly about providing prisoners perhaps the same level of Humanitarian and Preventive medicine and Billions in nebulous "AIDS assistance" provided, say, Africa, Haiti or certain other undeveloped nations.

(Always good to see you, dear T'wit)

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.