Two plasma donors die at private Canadian clinics under federal investigation

Two people have died in Canada after donating plasma at clinics run by the Spanish healthcare company Grifols, the federal regulator has said. Health Canada received reports of “fatal adverse reactions” following donations in October 2025 and January 2026; CBC News first reported the cases, and investigations remain under way.

Friends identified one of the donors as Rodiyat Alabede, 22, an international student who donated in Winnipeg on 25 October. Three months later another person died while donating at a different Winnipeg location. Health Canada said inspectors visited the centres after each fatality and that records indicated standard operating procedures were being followed.

Grifols said it had “no reason to believe that there is a correlation between the donors’ passing and plasma donation,” and the Canadian Blood Service said it was “deeply saddened.” Federal inspection reports list multiple failures at Grifols sites.

Canada, Winnipeg

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