Death Disguised as Life: Blood and Biosecurity
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Taylor Floyd
Abstract
The purpose of this Paper is to analyze the question of whether the Department of Health and Human Services should impose greater regulations restricting individuals from donating blood for transfusions in order to prevent transmission of diseases which blood donors may have unknowingly acquired abroad. Discussion of this question requires an analysis of: (1) what types of diseases can be transmitted via blood transfusion; (2) what tests are conducted on donated blood; (3) what is the balance between the desperate need for donated blood and the necessary precautions to be taken; and (4) what impact would regulations have on an individual’s willingness to donate.This Paper proposes implementing regulations and restrictions to act as safeguards against the spread of foreign acquired diseases. Part I discuses the current regulations of the blood donation process. Part II discusses diseases an individual can contract while traveling abroad. Part III proposes a policy that addresses the risk of foreign disease epidemics promulgated through the blood donation system. Finally, Part IV discusses the implications of the implementation of such measures.
©2012 Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Legal
- Introduction: Volume 3 of the Journal of Biosecurity, Biosafety & Biodefense Law
- Whistleblower and Liability Protections for Scientific Laboratory Employees
- WHO’S IN CHARGE OF BIOSECURITY? JURISDICTIONAL MATTERS
- Who has Jurisdiction of The Air During an International Health Crisis?
- WHO's Got Yellow Rain: An Analysis of the Yellow Rain Incident and the Possible Involvement of the World Health Organization
- BIOCRIMINOLOGY
- Duties and Difficulties of Investigating and Prosecuting Biocrimes
- A Legal Analysis of the Search Warrants of the Amerithrax Investigation
- BIOTHREATS AT THE BORDER
- The Role of Regulations in Minimizing the Bioterrorism Threat to Food Imports
- UNREGULATED POTENTIAL BIOSECURITY THREATS?
- The Mad (and not so Mad) Scientist Next Door: A Holistic Approach to Addressing Do-it-Yourself Biology
- Death Disguised as Life: Blood and Biosecurity
- SCOURGES, PLAGUES AND PLANS: WILL WE GET IT RIGHT?
- Foot and Mouth Disease: Then and Now
- Preparing for Another Round of Swine Flu: Will the WHO's Plan Prove to be a Success for the Global Community and Will the U.S. Lead the Way?
Articles in the same Issue
- Legal
- Introduction: Volume 3 of the Journal of Biosecurity, Biosafety & Biodefense Law
- Whistleblower and Liability Protections for Scientific Laboratory Employees
- WHO’S IN CHARGE OF BIOSECURITY? JURISDICTIONAL MATTERS
- Who has Jurisdiction of The Air During an International Health Crisis?
- WHO's Got Yellow Rain: An Analysis of the Yellow Rain Incident and the Possible Involvement of the World Health Organization
- BIOCRIMINOLOGY
- Duties and Difficulties of Investigating and Prosecuting Biocrimes
- A Legal Analysis of the Search Warrants of the Amerithrax Investigation
- BIOTHREATS AT THE BORDER
- The Role of Regulations in Minimizing the Bioterrorism Threat to Food Imports
- UNREGULATED POTENTIAL BIOSECURITY THREATS?
- The Mad (and not so Mad) Scientist Next Door: A Holistic Approach to Addressing Do-it-Yourself Biology
- Death Disguised as Life: Blood and Biosecurity
- SCOURGES, PLAGUES AND PLANS: WILL WE GET IT RIGHT?
- Foot and Mouth Disease: Then and Now
- Preparing for Another Round of Swine Flu: Will the WHO's Plan Prove to be a Success for the Global Community and Will the U.S. Lead the Way?
