Like a lot of other people said, you did it for the greater good. You freaked out BUT they didn't steal your blood. For that I gave you a YDI. Plus it's a needle. The same kinds they use in the doctor's office. If you freak out with one you'll freak out with them all. Please don't donate again if you're such a wuss. It a great thing to do but you obviously don't need to panic about the experience. Plus I'm pretty sure that the panic attack would help speed up the process since your heart is beating faster. Also, again, stealing your blood is watching you pass out on the floor, hooking you up and taking your blood while you're unconscious. Think of the horror flicks with the dude waking up in a tub of ice missing a kidney. Get over the shitty experience and don't donate again

the op didnt freak out - a panic attack is marked by a raise in blood pressure and pulse rate. freaking out isnt. also i think panic attacks arent very controllable. at least the op was trying to do a good thing. #113 kfnnnp apparently never does thing out of their comfort zone for other people.

oh and yeah be like #114nomadxx7 and dont try to conquer your fears. just leave to all the millions of other people donating. i mean its not like theres not a shortage on certain blood types or anything. its not like people really need that many blood transfusions. yeah. spare the people working for red cross the trouble of having your blood. oh and im sure that while someone is in the state of a panic attack they are completely aware of things happening and able to continue consenting to anything.

I bet it's a standard procedure for that sort of thing. You're not the only person who is afraid of needles, you know. Why should they not take the blood and help someone in need when the needle is ALREADY IN YOUR ARM? Get over it. It wasn't stealing, you were just being difficult for them.

I have panic attacks when someone has a needle near me too. That's why I don't bother donating blood. Now you know something about yourself. I also agree with Nevrmore/#117. It wasn't stealing.

"Today, I went to donate blood for the first time. When they stuck the needle in my arm, I had a panic attack and begged that they take it out. The woman helping me told me she'd take it out in a moment and left. It was then that the Red Cross stole a pint of my blood while I had a panic attack. FML" I've grown up with panic attacks, so I feel your pain. For all those that say you shouldn't have gone if you were gonna freak out...you had no idea. As you stated it was your 'first time' to donate blood. Yes, you were donating your blood for a good cause. Yes, you signed a contract. Yes, you're fine now. But what the nurse did was unethical, immoral, and illegal. No matter what happened, you asked them to pull the needle out-something that was entirely your decision. Forget the cost of a needled, the blood bad, and the stinkin cotton ball. You have rights also. I will also say that I really admire those who WILLINGLY donate blood. I was hospitalized January 2008 after bleeding internally for months and had to have 4 units of blood. Someone's blood donation helped me out more than I can say. But if I knew that the blood came from someone who had asked that the needle be taken out-no matter what the reason-I'm not sure I would feel okay with that. Granted I needed the blood, it wouldn't be something I'd agree with. I admire you for wanting to donate blood. And I am sorry you had so much trouble doing so. Hopefully, you'll feel the need to do so in the future. And if you do, I pray the person administering the donation has as much respect for you as they do the people who will receive your blood.

YDI. You wouldnt have had a panic attack if you hadnt gone in there knowing u were scared of needles and im sure ur petty little panic attack was worth someones life. and yea as stated above, not stealing.

1. A full donation is three-quarters of a pint. 2. Don't indult the medical profession by suggesting that they wouldn't recognise a panic attack. Itr makes you look even more stupid than you did by saying that you confused getting upset/freaking out with one. Get over yourself, then go back in three months and give the nice people your blood. Not once in my life have I ever met someone who suffers from panic attacks. This really is a wonderful thing for everyone I happen to have met, since they can be so serious. But gosh, there sure is an abnormally high occurence of them in the States, especially on the internet. Isn't that funny? /rant and #24: Wow. Just wow. You actually think you're entitled to say whether another human being, who means the world to someone, is worthy of life? That sure makes you one of the good folks who deserves the donations that aren't interrupted by hissy fits.

It's a bit crap on both sides. OP, surely if you have a phobia of needles, you know this? I personally have a phobia of needles - something I'm trying to get over for the very purpose of being able to give blood - but if you know you're going to freak out, why go? Or at the very least tell them you have a phobia, they must get it all the time, being scared of needles is really common. It's actually quite dangerous not to let people know about things like that because they won't be prepared for what you might do. That being said, it seems strange to me that they didn't stop if you were panicking. Yeah, you signed up for it, and yeah, they need the blood, but even so... it just doesn't feel quite right to me. At the very least that nurse could have stayed with you to make sure you didn't get worse. Leaving you on your own seems so dangerous - if it was a genuine panic attack, you could have passed out. But, look on the bright side, you've saved lives! And hopefully will be less scared about doing it next time.

wow the red cross stole my blood. epic story telling capabilities