A Family's Devastating Loss
A young international student lost her life after donating plasma at a for-profit centre in Winnipeg, and her family is now speaking out about what they believe went wrong.
A representative for the family confirmed that the student — identified in reports as Rodiyat — suffered a sudden cardiac arrest following her plasma donation. According to the representative, she had an enlarged heart, a condition that would have made the physical demands of plasmapheresis — the process of extracting plasma from blood — exceptionally dangerous.
"The process would have caused profound stress on her body," the family representative told CBC News, raising urgent questions about screening protocols at for-profit plasma donation facilities.
What Is Plasmapheresis?
Plasmapheresis involves drawing blood from a donor, separating the plasma, and returning the remaining blood components to the donor's body. The process can take anywhere from one to two hours and places measurable cardiovascular strain on the donor.
For healthy individuals, the procedure is generally considered safe. But medical experts note that underlying heart conditions — particularly an enlarged heart, known clinically as cardiomegaly — can significantly elevate the risk of serious cardiac events during and after donation.
The Winnipeg centre where Rodiyat donated is operated by Grifols, a multinational pharmaceutical company that runs a network of for-profit plasma collection facilities across Canada.
Questions About Screening Standards
The case has reignited a long-running debate in Canada about the adequacy of health screening at private plasma clinics. Unlike blood donation through Canadian Blood Services, which is a non-profit with federal oversight, for-profit plasma centres operate under a different regulatory framework.
Critics have long argued that the profit motive in these facilities can create pressure to approve donors who might otherwise be flagged as higher-risk. Rodiyat's case adds a tragic dimension to those concerns.
It remains unclear whether the enlarged heart condition was disclosed by Rodiyat, detected during screening, or unknown to her at the time of donation. The family representative did not provide details on what pre-donation health checks were conducted.
A Growing Industry Under Scrutiny
For-profit plasma donation has expanded steadily across Canada over the past decade, with companies like Grifols and Canadian Plasma Resources operating dozens of centres in major cities. Donors are typically compensated — either in cash or gift cards — which critics argue attracts vulnerable populations, including students and low-income individuals who may not fully understand the health risks involved.
International students, in particular, are sometimes drawn to plasma donation as a way to supplement limited income while studying abroad, far from their home countries and familiar healthcare systems.
Rodiyat's death has prompted calls from advocacy groups for stronger federal regulation of the sector, mandatory cardiac screening before each donation, and greater transparency from plasma companies about donor health outcomes.
Health Canada has not yet announced a formal review of the Grifols facility involved in her death.
What Comes Next
The family representative indicated the family is seeking answers and accountability. No details about a formal investigation or legal action have been confirmed at this time.
For anyone considering plasma donation, medical professionals advise disclosing all known health conditions — including heart conditions — to screening staff, and consulting a doctor if there is any uncertainty about eligibility.
Source: CBC News Canada. Original reporting by CBC Manitoba.
