Tragic death of China teenager ‘encouraged’ to give blood 16 times in 8 months for cash sparks online anger
- Boy, 19, works to support family, gets paid US$36 to give plasma
- Dies suddenly, father finds donation receipts, demands answers
The death of a 19-year-old in China, who died suddenly after being “encouraged” to donate blood plasma 16 times in eight months, has caused a public uproar online.
On January 15, Zhao Wei, from Xinzhou city, in Shanxi province, northern China, unexpectedly passed away at home, soon after he had returned from working to help support his family.
The next day, his father, Zhao Zhijie, found receipts under his mattress that revealed Zhao Wei’s extensive plasma donations between May and December last year.
Plasma is collected through an automated process that separates plasma from other blood components, then safely and comfortably returns your red blood cells and platelets to you.
The receipts showed that the younger Zhao had donated plasma 16 times in the eight months before his death, with the shortest interval between donations just 12 days. There was even one month in which he donated three times.
A medical report on January 5 further revealed that he was diagnosed with palpitations, severe anaemia and a blood disorder.