Red Cross Fined...

[ffemt8978]

Red Cross fined $4.2 mln over blood safety

By Lisa Richwine
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government fined the American Red Cross $4.2 million for failing to ask blood donors proper screening questions and skipping other steps meant to keep the blood supply safe, officials said on Friday.

The fine, the largest ever levied by the Food and Drug Administration for a blood safety violation, follows a multiyear battle between the FDA and the Red Cross, which collects about 45 percent of the blood donated in the United States each year for transfusions.

The agency said it had no evidence that any blood collected by the Red Cross harmed people who got transfusions.

Read the rest here

 

[fm_emt]

Yikes. :|

Our local chapter doesn't do blood stuff anymore. We send potential blood donors to a local blood bank that we work with.

 

[Chimpie]

Our local chapter doesn't do blood stuff anymore. We send potential blood donors to a local blood bank that we work with.

Same here.

 

[rescuecpt]

We have the New York Blood Center, which runs NY, Long Island, and NJ blood services. It was founded by my great-uncle-in-law during WWII.

 

[Ridryder911]

ARC as stated does provide for nearly 45% of the nations blood banks. AS well ARC was one of the few that debated the issue of HIV, AIDS, etc.. during the early 80's describing testing blood, was "too costly".

Yes, ARC does provide needed services and charges quite well for those services, as many hospitals are leaving their services, because the testing history and potential litigation(s).

R/r 911

 

[FF894]

I guess I just never thought about it, but the ARC is responsible for 40%? That jsut seems low to me?