Beef With Bureaucracy

Re “Hospitals Seek Share of Blood Industry,” Aug. 12: I’m healthy and have been trying to donate my blood for two years. The first year I was turned down because I’d visited a country in the malaria zone in the previous 12 months (even though I’d taken antimalaria pills). Now, because I’ve made visits to family in England totaling more than three months over the last 15 years, my blood is not acceptable to the Red Cross. Why? Because of the “mad cow” disease scare. Ironically, I haven’t eaten beef for 30 years.

Clare Marter Kenyon

Los Angeles