Octang Frye

For once, I am in agreement with you. Let's hope this nonky jerrard scenario never happens. Peace, love and cupcakes to all you BE folk.

SDDep

It is a bit dumb that we can't donate blood, but I am aware of at least one case of human mad cow disease...

Just a bit of humor...

henryh

Perhaps Kentuckians should also be banned.

Englishtart

Ash UK/US

I am thinking that 'mad cow' might have done a better job than O'bama

sir_eccles

http://www.dkmsamericas.org/ came round to our local temple as part of a drive for a particular patient. I think there are a couple of other charities that do similar (don't forget that you can claim back the donations on your taxes).

A quick google suggestshttp://www.marrow.org/ is the main registry but I have no idea if it is all linked together.

SDDep

I don't disagree with you...

SarahG

Well as I know how to use google, I managed to find out how to become a Bone Marrow donor and I have signed up. From what I read there is no restrictions on me having lived in the UK. All i have to do now is wait for the kit to arrive, swab the insides of my cheeks and then send it back and wait to see if I am a match to anyone. As my daughter has a kidney problem, I am aware of the fact that she may need a transplant or dialysis when she is older so being a bone marrow donor is my way of helping others too.

Bob

DMV don't know anything...you can opt to be a donor, but it won't be accepted come time they go to harvest your parts.

robin1234

Peace and love to you, brother

chartreuse

So, realistically, the process will be:
1: Get in accident.
2: Hospital sees organ donor notation and murders you for your organs.
3: Organs harvested from your corpse.
4: At some point in the paperwork, your UK residency comes to light.
5: Your organs get dumped in the hazardous waste bin.

Best not, then.

md95065

Actually it is still possible to donate blood for research purposes even if you are ineligible to donate blood for transfusions.

See, for example The Stanford University Blood Center

JAJ

Just like there was "no proof" that all the world's electronics would keep going on 1.1.2000, despite the nonsense to the contrary that was spread around at the time.

So-called "vCJD" is just another one of a long line of unfounded scare stories spread by scientists and politicians. (of course, there's always a grain of truth beneath it all, but nothing to give reason to the panic and extreme measures it led to).

sir_eccles

Not to derail the thread but...

Y2K was a real problem and it was only because a lot of work went into fixing the bugs that nothing happened. There is substantial evidence that some small systems did fail at the time but thankfully didn't cause nuclear power stations to explode or planes fall out of the sky. There was also something I read recently that failed this year because it couldn't handle 2010. The UNIX 32bit date issue could be even worse.

Similarly with H1N1, there was a real concern about this strain and only through getting a vaccine out quickly did they prevent it getting a foothold.

Unfortunately the people tasked with fixing these problems get none of the praise when things go smoothly and because of their hard work nothing happens huge anticlimax and no big headlines. When it all goes wrong guess who gets the blame.

GeoffM

Anthony Nolan (in the UK) share their register around the world, and similarly other registers around the world share it with the UK. So, in theory, as long as they have an address where you can be contacted then you should be registered. That's all a bit woolly though so perhaps you could get on a US register?

I was called back in a couple of years after I joined, for more thorough screening for a possible match. Twas not to be though - I hope the patient did find a match.