I'm a regular blood donor, but I was fairly disappointed the last time I went in to give blood. I got lost early on in the process, during the initial interview where they take your temperature, test your iron, and take your blood pressure.
Technician: "Would you be interested in doing an automated donation today?"
M: "No, thank you. I'd like to just do whole blood."
Technician: "Well, have you done an automated donation before?"
M: "Yes, for some reason I always feel worse after I do automated. And it makes me really cold during the process too."
Technician: "Well, you understand that automated is much more efficient for us, right? More people can benefit from your donation if you do automated. How many times have you tried automated?"
M: "I've tried twice. I really don't want to try it again."
Technician: "Are you sure? It really is much better for us. And most donors really like it as well. I'd say only about 2% of people don't like it. It's very strange that you don't like it."
M: "No, thank you. I'd like to do whole blood."
The technician looks away in disgust. I considered never giving blood again after that little incident. Who wants to be badgered and made to feel like their DONATION isn't good enough?
