Criteria for Bone Marrow Donation Criticized

A super fit PE teacher has been barred from donating bone marrow because he was overweight, causing him to criticize the criteria in selecting bone marrow donors.

38-year-old Carl Zaffino from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, said that his BMI was found to be 36.19, which means he was rejected in grounds of obesity.

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"I was excited at the thought I might actually save someone’s life. But I was dismissed on a calculation over the phone," he told Huddersfield Examiner. "When you get to the stage where you have been chosen as a potential donor, surely they could check you in a more in-depth way?"

Dr Derwood Pamphilon, medical director of the British Bone Marrow Register (BBMR), defended the decision saying they needed to look out for the donor’s health as well. "If an individual has a BMI of 35 or over, expert advice suggests there would be greater health risks associated with becoming a bone marrow donor," he revealed.

Source-Medindia
RAS/L

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