Blood For Profit: The Dark Side Of The Blood Donation Centers

Summary by Krater

This documentary investigates the trade of human blood plasma, contrasting the ethical view of voluntary donations in Europe with the commercial plasma collection industry in the United States, where donors are paid for their plasma.

From the video

Answers: Where does the blood plasma used for pharmaceutical drugs come from?

• blood plasma donation
• plasma fractionation industry
• paid vs voluntary plasma donation
• pharmaceutical drugs from plasma
• health risks of paid plasma donation

What it concludes

• Most donated blood is sold to private pharmaceutical companies rather than used directly in hospitals.
• About 80% of collected plasma goes into fractionation to produce expensive drugs.
• The United States is the world's main exporter of human plasma, supplying 70% of the world market.
• Paid plasma collection centers in the US disproportionately attract economically vulnerable populations.
• European countries struggle with self-sufficiency in plasma because commercial markets offer financial incentives to donors in other countries.