General Discussions => General discussions => Topic started by: karenpayneoregon on April 25, 2016, 08:31:52 AM Return to Full Version
Title: Dealing with the Red Cross
Post by: karenpayneoregon on April 25, 2016, 08:31:52 AM
Post by: karenpayneoregon on April 25, 2016, 08:31:52 AM
Everyday I have an hour lunch at work and usually take a 15 to 30 minute walk around the city. Today there was a sign up at the Red Cross asking for blood donations so I was inspired to drop in to see if I could give blood today.
I walk in, ask if they could get blood from my in 30 minutes? They said that is possible. So I say the last time I was in was as a male. Got the usually statement such as "no way" so I produced my former driver licence and she stares at both for about thirty seconds, looks up, looks at both pictures again and then looks up and says, amazing.
I am then taken to a interview room (which they have done in the past), ask me a few questions then she says I have to ask my supervisor something. Comes back in five minutes and says if I want to donate I must use my born gender rather than my current gender.
I had many ways to reply but kept it simple when she said "is that okay" I replied with "well I am female now, that's all that should matter and decline". She responded, I don't blame you at all and thanks for coming in.
If I had not told them about my transition all would had been fine but that is past history now. Would I do it different if I could go back in time knowing what I know now? Yes as the original reason was to link up my past blood donations with my current identity unless there was a crisis and then more likely than not they could care less.
So now the only time I donate is when my agency host them and don't bring up my former identity.
I walk in, ask if they could get blood from my in 30 minutes? They said that is possible. So I say the last time I was in was as a male. Got the usually statement such as "no way" so I produced my former driver licence and she stares at both for about thirty seconds, looks up, looks at both pictures again and then looks up and says, amazing.
I am then taken to a interview room (which they have done in the past), ask me a few questions then she says I have to ask my supervisor something. Comes back in five minutes and says if I want to donate I must use my born gender rather than my current gender.
I had many ways to reply but kept it simple when she said "is that okay" I replied with "well I am female now, that's all that should matter and decline". She responded, I don't blame you at all and thanks for coming in.
If I had not told them about my transition all would had been fine but that is past history now. Would I do it different if I could go back in time knowing what I know now? Yes as the original reason was to link up my past blood donations with my current identity unless there was a crisis and then more likely than not they could care less.
So now the only time I donate is when my agency host them and don't bring up my former identity.
Title: Re: Dealing with the Red Cross
Post by: suzifrommd on April 25, 2016, 10:41:57 AM
Post by: suzifrommd on April 25, 2016, 10:41:57 AM
I'm not sure I understand why it matters what gender you are. There is no such thing as male or female blood.
Title: Re: Dealing with the Red Cross
Post by: Devlyn on April 25, 2016, 10:48:51 AM
Post by: Devlyn on April 25, 2016, 10:48:51 AM
I wondered the same thing, Suzi. So, with the disclaimer that "I'm not a doctor" a quick google search indicates that it may indeed make a difference to some patients. If I were donating blood, I certainly wouldn't want it to have a negative impact on someone's treatment. Perhaps the people whose daily business is the collection and redistribution of blood and blood products know more about this than the average person?
Hugs, Devlyn
Hugs, Devlyn
Title: Re: Dealing with the Red Cross
Post by: Kylo on April 27, 2016, 04:59:14 PM
Post by: Kylo on April 27, 2016, 04:59:14 PM
This makes me wonder about something I've never asked before. Do they ever update a person's medical records to the current gender or do they always remain as your birth gender? Personally I believe it is a good thing for medical records to remain aware of one's birth gender, in case you are misdiagnosed for a disease particular to that gender.
I guess because blood donation falls under medical this might be why, but I see no point in them enforcing such a silly rule for a simple donation procedure when I imagine donor centers need as much viable blood as they can get. If they had to they could just put a note beside your gender about it but still allow you the new gender.
I guess because blood donation falls under medical this might be why, but I see no point in them enforcing such a silly rule for a simple donation procedure when I imagine donor centers need as much viable blood as they can get. If they had to they could just put a note beside your gender about it but still allow you the new gender.