…and this is a 
Remember that silly blood type nonsense from the Canadian Blood Services? It's gone, replaced with a much simpler page that states that your blood type will be determined when you give blood.
A few people have received email from CBS admitting that they've removed the nonsense.
Dr. Sher has asked me to respond to your recent e-mail regarding our What's Your Type? new donor recruitment program. I understand that you have also sent an e-mail communicating your concerns to www.whatsyourtype@blood.ca and that others from our organization have provided you with specific details in response. I can confirm that the content you object to has been removed from our web site. The marketing materials for this program are being revised.
Thanks again for sharing your views with us.
Ian Mumford
Chief Operating Officer
Canadian Blood Services
Good for them. Science FTW!
(Also on FtB)
Medicine & Health
Comments
Posted by: Dark Jaguar
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August 25, 2011 8:47 PM
In this edition of "Rain on your Parade":
This is a good move, but I can't help but notice that at no point do they admit that it was unscientific nonsense. They just say the content "you object to" is gone now.
Posted by: drbobironic
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August 25, 2011 11:54 PM
Now to get Canada to act on naturopathy 'licensed falsehood'.
-r.c.
Posted by: Frank b
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August 26, 2011 12:08 AM
Ah, people in the blood banking community respond faster. The HIV kerfuffle was a sharp leason.
Posted by: kenlord
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August 26, 2011 12:57 AM
I'm very glad that's gone. It was so wrong for our blood donation system to be using that BS campaign after the disaster years ago of the blood system infecting many people with AIDS and hepatitis. It was like they were flaunting their recklessness after killing so many.
Posted by: richellesmccullough
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August 26, 2011 2:58 AM
Now if only we can convince the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario so easily. You would think that professional organizations would be beyond this crap!!
Posted by: Lochsloy
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August 26, 2011 1:28 PM
When I contact Canadian Blood Services part of their response was as follows:
"We do make reference to selected aspects of ketsueki-gata within the What's Your Type program and our intention is for this to be a light-hearted way to involve potential new donors in the typing process.
However, we view it as only a minor part of the process. Once the initial contact with a potential new donor is made, we use the What's Your Type program to discuss the science of blood typing. This includes explaining in detail the ABO categories of blood types as well as the use of anti-serum during the typing process. Once the participant’s blood type has been determine, we explain the importance of knowing one's type, as well as the number of people within the Canadian population that have that same type."
They also indicated:
"We are working on some updates to the What's Your Type program this year with more focus on science based facts while still keeping the program fun for potential blood donors in Canada."
Apparently those that contacted them may have had a positive effect and the update is now being done.
Posted by: Scriabin
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August 26, 2011 3:09 PM
@Lochsloy (#6)
I received the same email three days ago after I, too, had carved them a new asshole.
Anyhow, great job to all who stepped up and called them on their woo.
And, to be fair, I'm glad they had the guts to revisit and revamp their marketing campaign. Sometimes it's easy for people (even smart people) to be bullied by their marketing departments/firms - especially when they've probably already ponied up the dough for said campaign.