6.3.2 Blood as commodity?
In contrast, some people argue that blood is a commodity or good like many other health care products, albeit that it has special and partially unique properties. Every individual produces blood in the same way: only ‘production conditions’ vary and so do some of the product specifications, such as blood type. Commercialisation from that point of view is a logical result. 6.3.3 Selling blood?
Some argue that ‘People sell their talent, experience, skills, services, creations, et cetera, and their value is determined by the laws of the market. So, why should persons not be able to sell their blood? There is hardly any risk involved in donating blood, is there?’ Notably, among all the actors in the blood transfusion chain, recipients, volunteers and donors are the only ones who do not make money. 1. Recipients
Recipients of blood products (patients, or ‘clients’) can, in fact, be expected to pay for blood products, either themselves or through their insurance, or in whatever way, depending on a country’s health care financing system. The patient’s gain for this payment is extra life expectancy and quality of life. 2. Volunteers
By definition, volunteers deny payment. We all accept their choice, and take appropriate advantage of it. 3. Donors
This leaves the blood donor as the only person breaking the common rules of economics in the entire transfusion chain. This works out well, as long as no shortages arise [20]. All the others in the blood transfusion chain do make money, not uncommonly, even for a living. They include the following groups of persons. ·· Management and employees of a blood establishment ·· Suppliers of equipment, disposables, housing and all other materials necessary to run a blood establishment ·· Health care workers, such as prescribing doctors, those involved in administering blood products and supporting activities such as laboratory testing and distribution There is probably nothing wrong with that, as long as market principles are considered a socially acceptable elaboration in accordance with distributive justice. Subsequently, these ‘paid actors’ in the transfusion chain must guarantee individual rights and well being. Paid staff must show respect for a different set of opinions. They should, for example, not refuse transfusing blood products to people merely on the grounds that they are not (or have not been) blood donors themselves. 6.3.4 Blood as tradable good?
All of this may imply that blood is some kind of tradable commodity or good. However, from a legal point of view, the question arises as to whether blood or blood products can actually be considered a good.
blood and blood components of Human Origin
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