How do I know my donated blood goes to emergency surgery and not plastic surgery?

Question

I suppose that's been the thought in mind that stopped me from donating. Also, that it can expire in 42 days. I'd hate to think that my blood, which I thought would go to a meaningful cause, went to a stupid/meaningless one, especially after all that pain and effort.

But of course, I'll never know. :/

So, I thought, the only way I'd donate if someone I knew was hurt and they needed surgery. Or if I knew it was going to a free clinic. Unless, you tell me that I'm wrong.

I suppose that's been the thought in mind that stopped me from donating. Also, that it can expire in 42 days. I'd hate to think that my blood, which I thought would go to a meaningful cause, went to a stupid/meaningless one, especially after all that pain and effort.

But of course, I'll never know. :/

So, I thought, the only way I'd donate if someone I knew was hurt and they needed surgery. Or if I knew it was going to a free clinic. Unless, you tell me that I'm wrong.

Edit:
I'd appreciate if people didn't put words in my mouth.

1. Burn victum surgery I'd donate to. It's imply didn't occur to me at the time.

2. No, I do not want people would a bad boob job to die. Nor the person who needs a heart transplant. But the person who is getting the heart transplant has the option of asking his friends and family to donate blood ahead of time.

3. I never said I would never donate ever under any circumstances.

Answer 1

Especially during the holidays, there is a need for blood donations. I agree with everything said above, and I think that your reasons for not donating are off.
Donating one pint of blood can save up to three people's lives; don't you think that would be worth it? You shouldn't have to know someone personally that needs blood to see a reason to donate.

Answer 2

You know, plastic surgery isn't just for people who are vain. They are for reconstructive purposes after car accidents and burns as well, or to correct things that are causing pain and suffering.

If everyone in the world felt like you did, that they shouldn't give blood if it might go to someone who had a procedure you didn't personally approve of or feel was necessary, then we'd have serious problems, and people would die.

If someone is getting plastic surgery, for whatever reason, and things go wrong, you'd rather they died than got your blood, huh? If a person is going to die from blood loss, they are going to die, regardless of what got them to that point, so giving your blood is not meaningless at that point, it's still saving a life.

Thank god everyone doesn't think they way you do.

Answer 3

In addition to what the other contributors have rightly said (namely, that plastic surgery can be for accidents, and that the probability of it going to emergency surgery is greater than it going to plastic surgery), giving blood doesn't really cost you anything.

It takes some of your time... and will involve a minor amount of pain... but thats it really. So even in the highly unlikely event your blood goes to some women who wants to go from a D-cup to an L-cup... you've not really lost anything - whilst in the more likely event its used for something absolutely vital, you've given everything.

Answer 4

Most purely cosmetic operations do not require blood transfusions. But plastic surgeons also do reconstructive work on accident and burn victims, as well as on patients with deforming congenital defects. I think you would agree that blood used in those situations was for a very worthy purpose.

Your feelings are understandable, but if you think about it, your gift of blood has a very high probability of being beneficial to a needy person, often a person at risk of losing his or her life.

Answer 5

You never know. You only know that you tried - that your donation might have gone to save someone's life. If you keep trying, certainly your donation will help keep an emergency surgical patient or accident victim alive. Please keep trying.

DK