BLOOD BANKING ASSIGNMENT

1. How do you feel about the character of doctor Don Francis

Dr. Don Francis of the American CDC was asked by his colleague, if you hate the government so much, why do you work so hard to protect it? And without any doubt, he replied, because that’s where the diseases are. This kind of mentality, is the most ideal mind set for our profession as medical workers. He is passionate about his craft, he never lose track on what he believes in, he never cracked under pressure, and he never submitted to conformity and the hypocrisy of bureaucracy, supported by his unprecedented enmity and opposition to doctor Robert Gallo. I feel inspired by his life, and it makes me love my craft as well because Dr. Don Francis reminds me that there are people who believes in this craft, saving lives.

2. What do you think is the role of blood transfusion in the spread of HIV in the 1980’s?

HIV is a blood Bourne pathogen, therefor blood transfusion catalyzed the spread of HIV in the United States, and infected thousands of patients. Since during that time, there was no screening for HIV, the spread was easy. Implications however was not only limited to the healthcare settings. There were also other effects such as sociopolitical conflicts which later led to gays being stigmatized by society.

3. There is a feeling that MSM are no longer sensitive to threat of HIV. What is your stand on no gay people should be allowed to donate blood.

The stereotype of gays and HIV is cruel and inhumane. Discrimination should never be enforced by the government if otherwise preventable. There really is no basis for this, for one, before a person should donate blood, he and/or she undergoes screening for HIV, therefor what is the need of banning gays to donate if they test negative for HIV. Another reason is that HIV is not only transmitted by MSM, and that problem is already addressed by screening tests.

4. Why were the blood banks across America slow in giving support during the time on HIV epidemic?

How many dead hemophiliacs do you need? How many people have to die to make it cost efficient for you people to do something about it? –this was the line of Dr. Don Francis during a meeting in CDC headquarters in Atlanta, January of 1983.

What do we see in the line of Don Francis? We see that he is unhappy with the support that the Blood banks are doing in relation to the prevention of the spread of HIV.

Obviously, the Blood banks were tied to the financial burden that the proposed test of the CDC. This was the primary concern and reason for the slow respond of the blood banks. Because during that time, if you were to put yourself in their shoes, 8 dead hemophiliacs really wasn’t cost efficient and enough reason to spend 100 million a year. Although today, we are well versed that such test is really necessary, their hands were tied because it was not logical to compromise such amount owing to the fact that the CDC really had no concrete evidence that HIV was blood born. The FDA which was the primary institution that regulated Blood banks in America also did not find compelling evidence immediately, therefor there was no immediate order to conduct support. But the most compelling message I found in the movie is the lack of support from the higher office due to the Raegan administration, whose republican view tainted anything liberal. The lack of funding of the CDC led to the delayed evidence in proving the connection of HIV in Blood transfusion.

5. As a future RMT, what could you do to lessen the risk of transfusion transmitted disease?

The risk of transfusion medicine is reversely proportional to the advancement of medicine, now if I want to “lessen the risk” it means that I have to do something to advance medicine in blood transfusion, and this entails research. Also, as a practitioner, I have to do well with my job to lessen the technical error which is also considered a risk in any field of medicine. I must be constantly updated with the medical circle and be very keen in observing what is happening around me.