"For any shortcomings on the part of the Red Cross, we are deeply sorry"
CMAJ 1997;157:246
Re: "The Krever inquiry: time to drop the appeals" (CMAJ 1997;156:1401-2 [full text / résumé])
See response by: J. Hoey
I agree completely with the article by Dr. Hoey.
Blood is a complex and complicated brew of healthy and effete red cells; living, dead and dying white cells; platelets in various forms; known and unknown viruses (some benign, some not); living, dead, dying and fragmented bacteria; cationic peptides; endotoxins; enzymes; occasional malignant cells; proteins; salts; cellular debris; hormones; fats; antibodies; and what have you.
It is a very personal concoction, specific to each individual. Added to this are more worrisome things, such as various strains of HIV and CreutzfeldtJakob disease. Who knows what other constituents, which may attack recipients in mysterious ways and prove incurable, may be discovered?
I would have to be in dire straits to let such a conglomerate mixture be injected into my body. All that money should be spent on grants for blood research. It will do far more good, for example, to find a suitable blood substitute in cases of hemorrhage.
Is this not the nub of the whole problem?
Frank I. Jackson, MB, ChB
Edmonton, Alta.
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