One blood donor saved 2.4 million lives—how many more are out there?

By MDLinx staff

Published March 12, 2025

Key Takeaways

Today’s doctors are leveraging their platforms to spark conversations, battle misinformation, and drive positive change in health and wellness. Their influential posts are making waves—don’t miss them!

Can one person’s biology change the course of medicine? James Harrison, aka the "Man with the Golden Arm," proves the answer is a resounding yes.

A life-saving antibody

In a viral Instagram post by pediatric allergist and clinical immunologist Zachary Rubin, MD, Harrison’s blood is highlighted as a medical marvel—containing a rare antibody that led to the development of Anti-D immunoglobulin, a treatment that has protected millions of newborns from hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN).

“This man’s blood was used to create a treatment that saved 2.4 million babies,” said Dr. Rubin.

Harrison, who passed away on February 17, 2025, leaves behind a legacy that raises a bigger question: Are we overlooking other ‘super donors’ with life-saving potential?

How many more ‘golden arms’ are out there?

Harrison was discovered by chance, but experts believe there are other untapped ‘super donors’ with unique immune profiles or rare antibodies.

"There are some people out there whose blood could be transformative for medicine. But the problem is—we don’t know who they are."

— Zachary Rubin, MD

Some researchers advocate for more targeted donor screening to identify individuals with rare or high-value biological markers.

Science vs ethics: Should we seek ‘elite donors’?

While identifying more “super donors” sounds like a no-brainer, the ethics are complex. Yes, they have rare biological traits that could help save lives—but should they get paid for it? And what about privacy? As demand for these high-value materials grows, here are some big questions to consider:

Should these individuals be compensated?
Does enhanced screening invade privacy?
Could this create a market for high-value biological materials?

As Dr. Rubin pointed out: “James Harrison never asked for a cent. He just showed up and donated over 1,000 times. But should we rely on people stumbling into donation, or should we be actively searching for them?”

Moving forward

Harrison’s legacy proves that one person’s biology can transform medicine—but only if we know how to harness it.

Should medicine take a more proactive approach to identifying ‘super donors,’ or does this raise ethical concerns that can’t be ignored? Either way, Harrison’s story forces us to rethink how we approach life-saving donations.