ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines the empirical evidence that demonstrates that offering compensation to plasma donors is safe and effective. It shows that the worry expressed by Richard Titmuss in The Gift Relationship – that offering compensation or payment to the donors of blood and blood products will result in lower quality blood or blood products being procured – is not applicable to the modern-day offer of compensation for plasma donation. Plasma is heavily processed before being used by patients. There is thus no possibility of contaminated plasma being used by patients in the way that occurred when the Krever Report was written on the “Blood Scandals” in Canada with respect to HIV/AIDS. Evidence is also presented that shows conclusively that offering compensation to plasma donors will increase the amount of plasma that becomes available. The supply will not diminish as a result of crowding out of altruistic donors.
