- Germany edition
- Change edition:
- France |
- Norway |
- Spain |
- Sweden |
- Switzerland
Blood money - is it okay to pay donors?
Published: 14 Jun 12 12:52 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/opinion/20120614-43153.html
The German Red Cross (DRK) has called for new blood donors to keep stocks filled, but say private institutes offering cash could deprive them of the precious red stuff. Is paying for blood okay or should it remain an honour system? Have your say.
- Cash 'threatens search for fresh blood' - Society (14 Jun 12)
- Donor day designed to ease organ shortage - National (2 Jun 12)
- New organ donor law will ask everyone - Society (25 May 12)
But increasingly, the DRK has warned, donors are being paid by private clinics, pharmaceutical firms and even universities for their blood.
This could leave the DRK, with its feel-good biscuits, out in the cold – and the bought blood in the hands of those conducting commercial research rather than in the veins of accident victims.
One alarming point made by the DRK was that the €25 usually on offer for blood was three times the daily allowance for those on the lowest level of unemployment support in Germany.
Should those in need of some extra cash be able to sell their blood to supplement miserly income?
Should all blood donors be offered payment perhaps? Or is the principle of voluntarism a valuable one in our increasingly commercialised society? Is there something special about literally opening a vein to help others that should be kept free of money?
Registered users of The Local may add their comments in the field below. If you haven’t signed up yet, you can do so here – it’s free and only takes a moment.
The Local/hc
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
Did Merkel's politics hurt Germany at Eurovision?
Eurovision Song Contest favourite Denmark won the competition on Saturday night, while Germany plunged to 21st place – the worst showing in five years – amidst speculation that it was payback for Angela Merkel’s hated policies. READ () »
Police warn against high-tech Islamist attacks
The Federal Criminal Police Office is warning of a new type of Islamist terrorist threat from the air that could attack both passenger and cargo planes as well as airport facilities, the Welt am Sonntag newspaper reported. READ () »
Some fear inflation if small euro coins cut
European Union proposals to eliminate one and two cent euro coins is annoying some Germans, including a few at the Bundesbank, while others think an EU idea to introduce one and two-euro notes is a good one. READ () »
Boy dies at Tropical Islands swimming pool
A 15-year-old boy died on Saturday at the popular “Tropical Islands” swimming and entertainment centre outside of Berlin, the Bild newspaper reported. READ () »
Wagner descendant slams composer
As the musical world lavishly celebrates Richard Wagner's bicentenary, the composer's great-grandson insists he is no spoilsport by denouncing the German master as a narcissist, woman-hater and an anti-Semite. READ () »
Bayern wins, Dortmund loses ahead of CL Final
If Saturday’s play was any barometer of what may happen at the Champions League final this coming Saturday, then Borussia Dortmund should be very nervous indeed. READ () »
Most Germans optimistic about the future
Although less than 50 percent of Germans are optimistic about their current situation, more than half think their future will be better and the number of pessimists in the country dropped, a survey released on Saturday showed. READ () »
Organic food stores expand rapidly
Organic food and health stores are undergoing a hefty expansion in Germany, with the Vitalia chain taking over several locations from the bankrupt Schlecker drugstore chain in Munich alone. READ () »
- 16/05 'At his final heartbeat I knew I had to act' »
- 14/05 'It's time Germany got over its speed fetish' »
- 13/05 'Germans are nice thanks to my Ami accent' »
- 09/05 Beate Zschäpe: neo-Nazi of mystery »
- 07/05 'The NSU trial is an aim in itself' »
- 06/05 'Racism is in society's wallpaper' »
- 06/05 'You can get pension payments back' »
- 02/05 Boy - the world's smallest film star »
- 30/04 'Women give the Catholic church a future' »
- 25/04 'Messi? I want to be Germany's Ronaldo' »
- Burning ship had tonnes of radioactive material »
- Boy dies at Tropical Islands swimming pool »
- 'LHighlights
Latest news from The Local in France- 19/05 Ancelotti praises 'great pro' Beckham »
- 19/05 Disgraced ex-minister abandons re-election bid »
More news from France at thelocal.fr
Latest news from The Local in NorwayMore news from Norway at thelocal.no
Latest news from The Local in SwedenMore news from Sweden at thelocal.se
Latest news from The Local in Switzerland- 19/05 Swiss lose to Swedes in hockey championships »
- 19/05 Swiss to face Sweden in world ice hockey final »
More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch
See all ads | Join the Marketplace
-
Chambervelt Rooselain & Cie Ltd.
Insurance and financial planning for English speakers in Germany -
PsyShrink Munich
The Expat Psychologists in Munich, Frankfurt and worldwide -
PsyShrink Frankfurt
The Expat Psychologists in Munich, Frankfurt and worldwide -
Shiply Worldwide Ltd
Shiply the Online Transport Market Place -
Weiss Institut
Free yourself from Smoking addictions, Sugar craving and Alcohol addictions -
British Corner Shop
British Corner Shop - The online supermarket for expats
Jobs in Germany, in English784 jobs available
592 new jobs this week
89 new jobs today- IT Systems Analyst (AO-86)
- European Recruitment Consultant (m/w)
- International Sales Manager / Turkey
- Translator - native English speaker with German as first foreign language
- Junior Quantitative Anaylst (Front Office/Commodity Trading)
- Environmental Health & Safety Coordinator (m/f)
- Manufacturing Engineer for Body Shop, Assembly & Logistics
- Chemical Plant Manager
- Customer Technical Service Representative
- Technical Manager Software Engineering
Blog- Apr/09 Touring Tempelhof – Europe’s Largest Historical Monument
- Apr/09 Spring in Berlin 2013 – Where, What Why and When!
- Mar/12 Living Like a Local – Tell us what you think and win a weekend in Berlin!
- Feb/04 Escaping the City – Our Recommended Suburban Getaways
- Feb/04 Berlin Tegel Airport Transfers – How to get into the City
EssentialsDating
Looking for your own blonde bombshell? Or is the strong, silent type more your style? Find a German sweetheart here.Weather
"After clouds comes clear weather," say the Germans. But what about after that? Find out in The Local's weather section.Blog
German stuff that's distracting us today.Noticeboard
Whether you want to buy, sell, hire, announce or promote something, here's the place to do it - completely free of charge.Discuss
Debate the news, ask for advice, make friends - or just let off steam.RegisterRegister now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discussNews from the Goethe-Institut- “Preserve the proven, shape the new” – the International Bach Academy in Stuttgart
For more than thirty years, Helmuth Rilling shaped the international Bach Academy; now he is succeeded by Hans-Christoph Rademann. - ‘Open Mike’ – Fireworks with the Buddha
The Berlin ‘Open Mike’ entered this year its twentieth edition. - On the Stage, the Spoken Word Prevails
In January 2013 the annual meeting of the Dramaturgical Society took place in Munich; its theme: “Speaking on Stage – and about Theatre”... - The Magician of Images – Klaus Ensikat
With the technique of an Old Master and subtle humour, the award-winning graphic designer and illustrator Klaus Ensikat has for fifty years produced ingenious illustrations for literary classics and children’s books.... - A Picture Every Day – Philip Waechter
Philip Waechter, son of the famous illustrator and cartoonist Friedrich Karl Waechter, is one of the best-known contemporary writers and illustrators of children’s books....
News from Young Germany- German first feature film in Cannes
A directorial debut from Germany makes it to the competition “Un Certain Regard” at the famous film festival on the Côte d’Azur. - Traveling Germany: Europa-Park
Think theme parks:Roller coasters, colorful rides, entertainment, thrills. Think Germany: Europa-Park is the largest amusement park in the country, second in Europe only to Disneyland Paris. - Frankfurt – the digital hub
The Internet hub in Frankfurt am Main is the largest in the world and places Germany in a leading position in the digital world. - The European Year of Citizens
2013 is the European Year of Citizens. They‘re invited to contribute their ideas for the EU, and to discover more about their rights as EU citizens. An example: labour mobility. - Neuschwanstein Castle: In Photos
Neuschwanstein is the most popular tourist attraction in Germany. And for good reason. King Ludwig II's castle looks like it fell out of a book of fairy tales.
News from DeutschlandOnline- Theatre festival between the Saar and the Mosel
The Festival Perspectives in the German-French region around Saarbrücken is staging European theatre, dance and music productions. - The European Year of Citizens
2013 is the European Year of Citizens. - Europe Day, Robert Schuman and Class 4a
Enthusiasm for the idea of Europe – in the 60th European Competition, schoolchildren from Germany show what this could look like. - Relief organizations
The portals presented here provide information on the help programs offered by different organizations.
- Analyst Predictive Maintenance
- Grid Modeling Expert - Stellenausschreibung TenneT
- Market / Business Intelligence Leader
- Account Manager Inbound Sales
- Business Development Manager
- Business Manager Pls
- Clinical Project Physician Clinical Development Biosimilars
- Education Program Manager
- Global Technical Consultant EMEA Automotive/Tire
- Partner Relationship Manager (Mobility) - Central/Eastern
- 17/05 paid internship
- 17/05 Florida resident seeks job in baden Baden Germany
- 17/05 Berlin Writing Group
- 17/05 cheap car hire
- 15/05 Queen size bed & frame
- 15/05 Feste Stelle
- 09:39 Using a Dutch bank account & card in Germany
- 09:29 Is learning 'der die das' impossible?
- 08:48 Tax return for non-Kleinunternehmer self-employed
- 08:14 A question of science...
- 08:04 Working from home in Germany: pros and cons
- 07:55 Raining again , will it ever end?
- 06:58 Hit a bicyclist with my car at a crossroad
- 05:58 Chess players in Munich
- 04:23 Divorced stay-at-home mums
- 00:50 South Africans in Munich
Start trading shares, equities, forex, etc. No commission on equities; Low min. margins. Apply for a CFDs account now!
'Charming, old, beamed cottage for holiday let in Jesus Pobre, Alicante, Spain
www.littlehouseinspain.com/
Professional and qualified consultancy on all insurance and finance matters in Germany, Telephone: +49 2163 571 1740, Email: bg@albatross-assurance.com
www.albatross-assurance.com
Visiting Berlin anytime soon? Book your hotel in Berlin here.
For home-from-home holiday accommodation, search for a Berlin apartment to rent.
Your comments about this article:
While I think compensation for expenses such as parking fees is okay, paying would attract the wrong people: Those who need money desperately.
Being a donor since many years, I have been sent away a few times when I revealed in the questionaire that I just had a flu the week before or took an Aspirin that day. When not paid, that's no difference.
But when people count on this money as an income, they may conceal all that may have them rejected - and that is bad.
Of course you may say where is the problem about an Aspirin (just as I wondered years ago) - but when a cancer-patient w/o a working immunal system gets blood with a remainder of flu-virus in it or a bleeder gets Aspirin-contaminated blood, this may just make the difference... :-(
Eventhough blood is checked - but not all things can be tracked (e. g. due to incubation-times). So you are also given a questionnaire and a card (anonymously, but connected to your blood/bag by bar-code) where you can check whether you are part of a risk group (specified there) or not and whether your blood can be used - or not.
Reason: If your co-workers, friends, family etc. go to give blood as a group, there may be group-pressure on you to join. In order for you to be able to say you join in, you get the chance to "tick off" the blood when alone in the cabin.
But this requires that you will not loose anything.
The very moment money is involved, people want to have it - and they may not disclose all information necessary (e. G. Time passed since last donation as they can be hopping between different services).
So in order to maintain a high quality, just attract those who do it for idealistic reasons, not for bitter greed for cash.
The Wonderer
What has this got to do with paying for blood? Any student or person looking for a little cash, wouldn't give for much less. Addicts and alcoholics are easily detected in the blood screening.
The issue is how badly do you need blood? If volunteers are readily filling the needs, thats great, hope it continues, if not payment may be necessary.
I read some years ago that a State in the USA was gong to offer traffic violators the option of giving blood as opposed to paying the fine.
So if you can and are allowed do it ,maybe someday you may need some yourself.
Yes, donars should be paid. I do now an my blood going to a gangster or a wealthy CEO....when I give it for free. Neither group deserves my blood for free as one group is violently abusive and the other is violently exploitive!
The world is a sick place (http://www.chefkoch.de/forum/2,22,435202/DRK-Blutspenden-das-Geschaeft-mit-unserem-freiwilligen-kostenlosen-Blut.html).
In some countries registered blood donors are entitled to receive free blood when they or their families need it. I believe it is a fair system.
To collect, process, store and distribute blood costs the DRK money, so they should recover these costs in order to support the system.
The question is, how much profit the hospitals make on the blood and will they charge the same for "Cheap" DRK blood as for commercial blood?
As per normal, this story is only a stub and does not really provide much useful information.