this is the end??!!

The economic principle I focused on throughout the passion project was that an incentive is something—either positive or negative—that influences the choices that a person makes. When incentives change, people's actions also change, usually in very predictable ways. The topic I researched were blood donations and who can donate blood, are they paid in any shape or form, and who those blood donations go to.

First, blood donations as many know aren't paid for. With red blood cells they are sent to a lab and are cross matched and then a patient receives that blood donation through a blood transfusion. Since red blood cells can't be broken down into medicines and pharmaceuticals like plasma, they aren't profited to drug companies. With donating plasma, donors are able to profit from those donations. If there were incentives such as money to donate blood, many of those donors will most likely be ineligible or incompatible to even donate blood. Luckily, there are many tests run to make sure that no one receives any transmissions from infectious diseases, but this takes a lot of time and money that is unnecessary if people donate without evil intents for others. Instead, hospitals have started to give out incentives like body wash and toothbrushes just for coming to donate blood. So even if it ends up not working out for the donor, they still receive some type of incentive that benefits everyone.

Second, a few years back, Canada had banned gay men to donate blood because they were worried about HIV transmissions from homosexuals.  Earlier last year, Canada has removed the ban, but in place put a policy for gay men to donate, but they have to avoid any sexual activity for five years. In recent findings there is no correlation with gay men having a higher rate of HIV transmissions. Adam Awad, the national chairman of Canadian Federation of students which is an organization that is against this ban argues "For the vast majority who are affected by this ban, this policy change is actually no change." While some believe that this ban is true, it's just an attack for others to discriminate against those who aren't heterosexual. Awad argues that someone who has unprotected sex with multiple women is a greater threat to the sanctity of the blood supply than a gay man who has been in a long-term, monogamous relationship. Considering that there are tests available to check if the blood is safe, why discriminate anyone from donating blood, if they are clean. Sexual preference shouldn't be affecting the blood supply if it can help someone live a better life. 

Third, blood transfusions are a long process especially on the receiving end. According to Rachel Nall, a writer for Netdoctor states that "This sample will be sent to a laboratory for typing and cross matching. Typing is when the lab determines blood type. Cross matching is testing to determine if your blood is compatible with a donor's blood of the same type." Knowing your blood type is important considering that the cells and proteins need to be the same if you are receiving donated blood. If you have received the wrong blood donation, your immune system will attack those "foreigner" cells and deteriorate them. The side effects for blood donations can be serious if they go untreated. Luckily, there are many medicines that are accessible to those who need them, to get the help they need.