Lance Armstrong's physiological enhancement for the sake of a championship endangered lives.
To begin, others could have used that blood for life saving measures. That is just the beginning. The lack of moral turpitude in those actions can be discussed ad nauseam. But, that is not the worst of it.
Blood has many characteristics. Blood's components doesn't end with typing of A, B, O, AB. Negative and Positive Rh factor.
Armstrong's obsession with victory has put himself and his biking team at risk for strong transfusion reactions beyond that of type and cross.
He more than likely had to take a regime of antihistamines, blood and white cell filters and steroids to prevent reactions after the first blood transfusions he found more than helpful to his career. If not, that is amazing.
Blood transfusion abuse should never be considered. Hypersensitivity of blood transfusions regardless of how closely the blood is match (short of self transfusion) does occur. It complicates a person's safety margin when facing emergency room procedures to save their lives. Blood transfusions should never be abused.
I can't believe any professional carrying out these 'victory regimes' behind closed doors would actually consent to it, but, then we lost Michael Jackson, didn't we?
