If it were up to me, I would put blood donation (and probably organ donation) on an Opt-Out basis. Until we can fabricate a decent facsimile, it's the Right Thing to do. So I was checking out the local agency & rules and quickly discovered that I am not eligible to donate here. If you have lived in the UK for more than 3 months between 1980 and 1996, then you cannot donate blood. BSE and concerns over prions leading to CJD are presumably the cause given the dates.
I'm tempted to suggest a certain xenophobia in the whole matter as in the UK, I always get quizzed by the supervising nurse because I have visited Malaysia in the last 12 months (worried about Maleria). Mind you, I was once turned away because I had biten my lip earlier in the day and the nurse kept saying We have to be very careful you know, while not actually saying I couldn't donate. A bit puzzled, I eventually had to ask if they were refusing me, which was fine, except that they wouldn't actually say it. We need to be careful. Goodness knows what they wouldn't tell you if it was serious.
It reminds me of a cartoon a few years back showing two cows talking in a field:
Cow #1: Aren't you worried about Mad Cow Disease?.
Cow #2: Not at all. I'm a fish.
To which, all I can say is moo.
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