Here's a story from the NYT, about the recent regularization of paid plasma donation in (some provinces of) Canada.
How Safe Is Plasma Donation?
Two recent deaths tied to for-profit clinics in Canada raised concerns about the health effects of having plasma drawn as often as twice a week. By Roni Caryn Rabin and Vjosa Isai
"Donating plasma, which is used to make lifesaving medicinal products, is widely perceived as low-risk. But questions about the safety of the practice arose this week when Canadian health authorities confirmed they were investigating two recent deaths of people who gave plasma at for-profit clinics in Winnipeg operated by Grifols, a Spanish health care company.
"Millions of people donate frequently in North America. An estimated 60 to 70 percent of plasma-derived medicinal products worldwide are made from plasma donated in the United States.
And demand for plasma is growing. The market for plasma-derived medicinal products is valued at $40.35 billion and is expected to double over the next eight years, as the products are used to treat an expanding number of conditions, including immune deficiency syndromes and bleeding disorders.
But the health impact of frequent plasma donation on the donors themselves has not been well studied, and there is no consensus among health regulators about how long donors should wait between plasma draws.
In both Canada and the United States, companies can pay people an honorarium for donating their plasma, and health regulations say that people can donate up to twice a week.
...
"A 2020 investigation by the F.D.A. into 34 deaths reported as being associated with plasma donation did not determine that donation was the cause of death in any of the cases. It ruled donation out entirely as a cause in 31 cases. "
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