An auction peddling what's purported to be a vial of late President Ronald Reagan's blood has generated thousands of dollars in bids and a heaping helping of controversy.
The vendor selling the vial claims his mother pulled the actor-turned-politican's blood at the "Bio-Science Laboratories" in Maryland. The blood, the vendor stated, was initially drawn at the George Washington University Hospital following the president's March 1981 shooting at the hands of John Hinckley, an obsessed Jodie Foster fan who was trying to impress the actress with the outrageous crime.
But real or not, many tied to the country's 40th president have spoken out against the sale.
It has to be noted that the executive director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, John Heubusch, called the sale "a craven act," pledging the foundation "will use every legal means to stop its sale or purchase.
"Any individual, including a President of the United States, should feel confident that once they enter into the care of a medical system their privacy and rights are held inviolable," he quoted as saying.
Dr. Joseph Giordano, who headed the hospital's trauma team when Reagan was shot, stated that "people’s specimens or bodily fluids" have no place on the market.
"You have no permission to do that," the doctor claimed. "It’s unethical."
The unidentified seller stated he rebuffed requests to donate the vial to the late president's family.
"I was a real fan of Reaganomics and felt that President Reagan himself would rather see me sell it rather than donating it," the vendor said in a statement.
It has to be mentioned that the auction is being held at PFCauctions.com, which is based in the United Kingdom.
What do you think of it?
In my opinion, selling President Reagan's blood is totally unethical, disrespectful and pure exploitation! It is unbeleivable the way people think in order to make money! Hope this auction will never happen.
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