Do I Need a Lawyer to Donate Blood?

I like to donate blood. I feel good about potentially helping another person in need. It takes a little bit of my time every couple of months, but it's a good thing to do and you get a mini health screening. They check your pulse and blood pressure and temperature right there and then your blood gets checked for many other things at the lab. My mother's first husband died in 1956 of leukemia. He found out he had leukemia after a blood donation. They contacted him. Unfortunately in 1956, leukemia had a much higher fatality rate than today.

On Monday, I went to the Frederick, Maryland Donor Center that is run by the Red Cross. I had never been there before. I've donated a pint in as little as 45 minutes to as much as 2 hours. It's not the actually donating that takes time. I usually fill the bag up in about 7 minutes. But, it's all the procedural stuff that one must go through. And if there are people waiting already, you then have to wait for them. But it's a good thing to do, so you wait, patiently. Many people bring a book or magazine to pass the time.

I meet with one of the phlebotomists for the patient interview. We go in a little booth for "privacy" and then the questions begin. Some rather personal questions about where you have been, what you do and who you do it with. Since they are going to give your blood to another person, it's important information. If you have some lifestyle practices that could mean your blood may be tainted, the Red Cross wants to know, let me correct that, NEEDS to know.

After the questions, I then have to sign a few consent forms. One is for a test that is new and the other is from the State Of Maryland to test for HIV. I generally don't sign forms without first having my lawyer friend look at them, but I figure that it's probably alright. I mean, after all, I'm donating blood. My blood might actually save a life or two. If I can't trust the Red Cross, then we have some really big issues here.

The donation goes smoothly for me and I have a few cookies and water when I'm done. (If you haven't donated before, they have snacks and drinks for you when you're finished.) The whole process took about an hour. This was the 4th time I donated this year and I hope to get a 5th donation in before the year is out. I hope you'll join me.

One more item about the Red Cross. The Southern Maryland chapter of the Red Cross is holding their annual golf/auction fund raiser on September 21st. Call Mike Zabko - Chief Executive Officer of Southern Maryland chapter of the Red Cross at 301-934-2066.