Blood plasma is the yellow fluid that remains once white and red blood cells and platelets are removed. It can be used in transfusions, although Canadian Plasma Resources is focused on providing plasma to make a variety of medical treatments, from helping people who have clotting disorders to some cancer medications.
Critics say collecting plasma from paid donors by private, for-profit clinics is a dangerous regression from the recommendations of the Krever Commission after the tainted blood scandal of the 1980s, when 30,000 Canadians were infected with hepatitis C and HIV through transfusions and plasma products. One of its recommendations was that donors of these products should not be paid.
As a result, Canadian Plasma Resources’ initial plan, to open donation clinics in downtown Toronto in 2013, was met with a public outcry. Critics cited safety concerns over private plasma collection, and accused it of picking locations near homeless shelters to take advantage of the impoverished.
Read the full article on the Financial Post web site.