597: Should You Have The Right to Choose Your Blood Donor? With Liz James

597: Should You Have The Right to Choose Your Blood Donor? With Liz James

Author: Weston A. Price Foundation September 21, 2026 Duration: 49:05

What if you needed a blood transfusion—but wanted a say in whose blood you received?

In this episode, pharmacist and patient advocate Liz James shares the remarkable story behind Blessed By His Blood, a nonprofit cooperative helping people locate compatible directed blood donors and navigate a system that can make receiving blood from someone you know surprisingly difficult.

Liz explains why she walked away from a successful pharmacy career in 2020, how her commitment to informed consent eventually led her into blood-donor advocacy, and why she believes patients should have the right to choose their blood donors in non-emergency situations. She takes us inside the blood industry, raising questions about blood storage, testing, medications and other substances that may be present in donor blood, and the financial incentives she believes are contributing to resistance to directed donation.

She also discusses the legislative effort to protect directed donor blood, including the first successful law in Idaho, and shares moving stories of families Blessed By His Blood has helped—including a transplant patient and two young girls who depend on regular transfusions.

Finally, Liz explains how families can make a plan before a transfusion is ever needed and why becoming your own advocate may be one of the most important steps you can take to protect your health.

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To learn more about Liz James, visit Blessed By His Blood
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The conversations on Wise Traditions, presented by the Weston A. Price Foundation, explore a path to well-being that feels almost forgotten. This isn't about the latest trends or synthetic solutions; it's a deep dive into the dietary patterns and living wisdom of ancestral communities who achieved remarkable physical health. Each episode brings forward voices-researchers, farmers, clinicians, and healers-who discuss practical applications of this knowledge for contemporary life. You'll hear detailed discussions on sourcing and preparing nutrient-dense foods, the role of traditional fats, the gut microbiome, and the profound connections between soil health and human health. The podcast operates from a core principle articulated by Dr. Weston A. Price himself: that true vitality comes from aligning with nature's laws, not attempting to supersede them. It’s for anyone questioning conventional dietary advice and seeking a more rooted, evidence-based approach to fitness and holistic wellness. Tune in for a consistently challenging and enriching perspective that redefines what it means to be truly nourished, drawing on centuries of human experience to inform our choices today.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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