Bad Blood: Crisis in the American Red Cross

This book is fabulously written, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to read a factual account about an organization who doesn't do so well in their hiring practices, but nonetheless is admired by a lot of people. My favorite quote from the book - Is anything more sacred then the ARC - yes the truth.

Judith Reitman obviously put a lot of work and research into writing this book. All of the information provided is well researched and documented. I would recommend this book to anyone, because it warns us not only about the Red Cross, but it makes us aware about how other non-profit organizations can cut corners to save money as well. It also makes us realize that there are a lot of changes that need to be made to regulate organizations and businesses of any kind for the protection of all of us. I don't think people realize how much one decision can impact other people's lives. Reitman provides a lot of examples in the form of true stories which really makes this book that much more interesting.

Ms. Reitman should be commended for her courage in bringing to light an unforgiveable human tragedy. In other countries those in charge of the Red Cross blood program would have been jailed for their callous disregard of human life. With warnings and red flags galore, instead of admitting there was a terrible problem with the blood supply, the Red Cross blood program officials calculatedly chose to proceed with the status quo. Their actions cost the lives of the very people whom the Red Cross was established to help.The results of their actions are ongoing and still affect the lives of people who trusted them. The FDA has been attempting for years to force the Red Cross blood program into compliance with safe blood practices and yet, with coffers overflowing, the Red Cross is claiming any penalties will jeopardize their very existence. How can they, in good conscience and with mounting evidence against them, still refuse to accept responsibility for the tragedy they knowingly caused.This book is a good lesson for us all. Trusting an organization based solely on reputation and its self promotion opens the door to abuse.My heartfelt sympathies go out to all the victims of the Red Cross blood program's deceit....the victims....those who received the tainted blood products as well as to those in the medical field who were unknowingly made accomplices as they transfused and administered those blood products in an attempt to save lives. How awful they must now feel.

At this point when we are looking to a new century, isn't it time to dispense with illusions? This book asks us to set aside our need to glorify an institution, to really evaluate it in terms of its actions, and to make our own judgement call.Based on the facts not on the myths. It is a courageous thing to ask us to do.