ABSTRACT
This chapter will consider another argument based on the value of social cohesion that has been offered against allowing plasma donor compensation – the Contamination of Meaning argument that David Archard developed from Richard Titmuss’ work in The Gift Relationship. Archard’s argument is developed in this chapter to support the claim that a moral concern with social cohesion will support the prohibition of donor compensation. It explains why the prohibition of compensation for the donation of blood and blood products could be especially important for social cohesion. But even this developed version of the Contamination of Meaning argument fails. Its justification for giving special treatment to blood and blood products turns out to be self-defeating. And the available empirical evidence on social trust casts doubt on the claim that allowing donor compensation undermines social cohesion.
