🚀 go-pugleaf

To the extent that I feel I have been wronged, and subjected to cold,
cruel,
callous and uncaring treatment by certain staff at the Austin Bio Med
facility
on Owen Tech Rd. I feel compelled to give my side of the story,
something
that was never even asked about. Also, to the extent that I consider the
time I
have spent at Austin Bio Med an investment of sorts, I feel that I have
a
legitimate grievance. What course of action and or damanges I plan to
claim,
I have yet to determine. To begin let me say I am a 34-year-old father
on one,
living in Austin and seperated from my wife. We share caring for our one
and
half year old son. I began donating plasma at Austin Bio Med early in
1997,
and was a consistent donor there for months without incident.

Recently, when I returned to the center to give plasma, I was informed
that
because of the time that had lasped, I would have to be treated as a new
donor, and undergo a physical. As it so happened, I had my young son
with
me that day and upon being told the physical would only take an extra
twenty
minutes, I agreed to partake, and left my son in the care of the daycare
facility.

Expecting it to last no more than two hours, the process took well over
three.
Exacerbating the situation, was the fact that I had gained and few
pounds and
consequently, the center felt entitled to 880 ml of my plasma instead of
the
825 I was used to donating (all for the same flat rate of $20 which
leads me to
assume that they make more money on heavier donors than those that weigh
less).

I suppose the fact that I smoke does little to help my case, but honesty
compels me to confess that at the three hour mark I was irritable as
well, due
to my having not had a cigarette since I entered the center. Also,
during the
process, my wife paged me, and I was anxious about what she would think
when I didn't call her back right away, since I had our son with me. One
of
the staff was nice enough to call her for me and let her know I was
unable to
come to the phone at that moment.

Now, I had hoped to spend some time with my son that day, but because
the
process took so long, I saw very little of him. The day care lady told
me he
was very well behaved, and I was proud of him. Unfortunately, I wasn't
as
well behaved, when, finally, the audio signal "beep" was signaling
somebody
to unhook me, the saline solution having finished emptying into my
bloodstream. The beeping continued for a few minutes, as did one guy's
next
to me. The nearest staff member, an overweight African American male,
could be observed down the row, high fiving a buddy, and goofing off. At
this
point, irritability and agitation took over, and I began to unhook
myself.
When he became aware of what was happening, he came over to me and the
other man. He was very rude, and told me to stop unhooking myself, and
that
I would have to wait my turn, as the guy next to me's signal had gone
off
first.

At this point, I insisted he unhook mefirst, and he advised me that if
he did,
he would make that I could never donate again. At the time, all I could
think
of was that I wanted to get my son, get out of there, have a smoke, and
get on
with what little of the day I had left to spend with my son. So, I said
fine.

Over the next month, I never returned to give plasma, even though I did
need
the money, I assumed his "banning" me was in effect. Since I happen to
work
next door at a pizzeria, I did return one day the week before Halloween,
not
to donate, but to hand out free food and coupons to some of the
employees
because our pizzeria, located next door in the Ice Rink, wants to
promote our
lunch buffet business. My visit that day was pleasant, and I spoke with
many
of the staff who remembered me. I casually remarked that I was no longer
welcome there to which more than one replied, "Nonsense. I was more than
welcome. I hadn't been that difficult." Included was one women, Deanna,
I
believe who had been the one who had called my wife for me. The
encounter
was pleasant and warm and I felt a certain relief that the investment of
my
time in getting that second physical hadn't gone to waste.

Contrast that warm reception to the my reception two days later, on
Halloween, when I decided to use the few hours I had inbetween shifts at
the
pizzeria to donate plasma and earn an extra $20. Maybe, because it was a
holiday, a day that I had to work and didn't get to spend with my young
son,
and a day that reminds me of my own painful relationship with my own
father, who doesn't speak to me, and lives far away in California, I was
emotionally low that day.

After signing in and waiting about 15 minutes, I was called up, not for
a pin
prick\ but into one of the medical examination offices, where three
staff
members, including the gentleman who had "banned" me, were gathered
looking a lot like the Spanish Inquisition. A young woman, Jenni, I
believe
spoke for the three and reminded me of my unpleasant visit and said
there
had been numerous complaints that day, if she recalled correctly.

In my defense all I said was that I had been given mixed messages by
their
staff, and told I was welcome. I apologized for my behavior and with
tears
welling in my eyes, I was flatly told I was unwelcome there. They didn'
want
my plasma, didn't want to pay for my plasma, and was advised that there
was
another plasma center downtown where I could go, but I was not welcome
there.

Well I was speechless. Not wanting to justify their position, I
controlled my
temper, went over the reception area where the pretzels and juice are
kept,
and bawled. Another donor was there and saw me crying and so I thought
it
best that I leave. Why was I crying? Because of my father, because of a
lot
things unrelated to the center that were going on in my life. But their
treatment of me that day.. their refusal to even hear my side of the
story, and
their flat out rejection of me, was simply the straw that broke the
camel's
back that day. I felt humiliated. I felt hurt. I felt disregarded as
human being.
I emotionally downward spiraled into suicidal feelings again.. feelings
that I
am dealing with via therapy and anti-depressants. 

I called my wife when I got home. I was clearly upset and she left work,
came
over and helped me feel a little better. She reminded me that I have a
son who
loves me and needs me, and that I shouldn't let such an insignificant
event get
me down. And I realized she was right, but at the same time, I could not
roll
over and play dead and allow myself to be treated like that. Concluding
that
my best course of action to make myself feel better about the whole
thing was
honesty. That my side of the story be heard, and in that I am a talented
writer, I could respond in an appropriate and civlized manner, that in
the
very least would make me feel better, and bring to the attention of the
powers
that be at Austin Bio Med, that people are people and shouldn't be
treated
like lab rats.

I won't slander the entire staff of the facility. Indeed, many there
have been
warm, caring and understanding. But others, namely the man who banned
me, and the three that confronted me on Halloween, clearly demonstrated
to
me on that day, behavior that is wholly unbecoming for individuals
involved
in the health care industry. Behavior that was cold, callous, and
uncaring.

Again, I am not sure what course of action I will take, other than
certainly
using the Internet as I have in past, to publicly state my grievances.
Beyond
that, what course of action I may take, be it a formal legal claim or
other, is
undecided. I certainly have suffered emotionally because of it, and the
time I
spent at the facility represents an investment as well.

Thank you for listening.




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