Michael Arnold Glueck -- COMMUNITY COMMENTARY

Newport-Mesa is bloodthirsty, just like the rest of the nation, and

becoming more so every day. More accurately, we are thirsty for blood

donations. The severity of the shortage has forced the postponement of

elective surgeries and other nonemergency treatments.

Although blood donations are up slightly, the demand is increasing

faster than the supply. This is due to a combination of an older

population and medical advances increasing the number of highly technical

and complex procedures, such as organ transplants, that require a lot of

blood.

Our local situation is a bit better than the national crisis. Randy

Gurman, chief of the Blood Bank at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, says

his blood bank is relatively “fortunate because the hospital has its own

on-site donor center. Elsewhere shortages are getting worse and lasting

longer.”

Hoag Hospital uses an average of about 41 units every day. The

American Red Cross supplies about 40% of the blood used. This is roughly

in line with national figures, which show the Red Cross supplying about

half of the national supply.

Out of a pool of more than 200 million eligible blood donors, less

than 5% percent actually give blood. Americans always dig deep when the

Red Cross puts out the call for disaster relief. So why the resistance to

giving this lifesaving gift?

There are numerous factors. Some are a reflection of human nature,

others due to Mother Nature. December’s ice storms in the East and

Midwest forced the cancellation of more than 5,000 donations.

The human factors most often cited include anxiety about the

procedure, lack of time to donate and the intimate nature of the

donation. While we can’t do anything about the weather, here are some

suggestions about the others.

Those needles can be big and intimidating! I’ve witnessed the biggest

and toughest guys pass out. But this is simple to remedy -- just reduce

the size of the needle. The actual blood draw may take a little longer,

but it would be worth the change.

The second issue is more complex to address. Blood transfusion is

really a form of organ transplantation. Donating or receiving blood means

more to us as humans than giving or receiving a pint of milk. This is

part of the ethical basis for the current dependence on free blood

donation, without other compensation for the donors. It’s time to rethink

this policy.

Why not extend the federal tax donation for charitable contributions

to blood donations? Any other charitable donation qualifies for a tax

deduction, whether cash or goods. Why should a gift of used clothes to

the Salvation Army be worth more on your 1040 than the gift of blood to

the Red Cross? Giving the gift of life to others should have more value

than a cup of orange juice.

In the meantime, consider donating blood. You must be at least 17

years old, in good general health and weigh more than 110 pounds. Most blood banks have no upper age limit. Your body usually replenishes the

blood within two months. Some studies even suggest that donating may

decrease the likelihood of heart disease.

Blood is immune from the divisions of race, religion, color, gender

and background. Most of the blood you give today will give life within 24

to 48 hours.

* MICHAEL ARNOLD GLUECK is a Newport Beach doctor who writes locally

and nationally on health care and legal reform issues.