In response to the highly critical FDA reports, Red Cross President Bernardine Healy released a statement to the public in which she stressed the safety of the blood supply. No patient has been harmed by blood that has been inappropriately released. While Healy agreed with the FDA's assessment of widespread infrastructural and quality control problems at the Red Cross, she said she opposes attempts by the drug agency to levy heavy fines on them. In contrast to the blood situation decades ago, the blood supply today is extremely safe, according to Starr. Drug companies have cleaned up their acts and most prison collection centers have been closed down, although Starr said he was unsure how many plasma firms still operate in skid row areas.
Blood spoils so easily - it's as fallible as the human organism.