Canada urged to reopen probe into plasma donor death

Patient advocates in Canada have called for a new investigation into the death of a 22-year-old international student who died of cardiac arrest shortly after donating plasma in October 2025. Rodiyat Alabede, a student at the University of Winnipeg, died at a facility operated by the Spanish healthcare company Grifols.

An initial Health Canada investigation found no link between the donation and her death.

Discrepancies in reports Campaigners said on Wednesday that significant medical discrepancies existed between her autopsy, completed within two days of her death, and the medical summary drafted by Health Canada on 27 March. They accused the federal body of covering up details of her death.

The autopsy revealed that Alabede had cardiomegaly, or an enlarged heart, which would have placed major strain on her body during donation. A safe blood campaigner representing the family said staff may not have screened her properly or responded correctly to the donation process.

Inspection reports viewed by the Guardian found deficiencies at the site, including poor staff training, failures in standard operating procedures, and poor record keeping. Staff were allowed up to four retakes of a failed quiz on operating procedures without changing the questions.

Company and regulator response The reports also flagged issues with staff competency in responding to machine alarms. The campaigner said alarms may have instructed staff to stop the donation but were not followed. Grifols stated earlier this week that it had submitted detailed action plans to Health Canada for immediate implementation and would work closely with the regulator to meet licence requirements.

The campaigner and others have written to officials requesting that the investigation be reopened and that Grifols's licence be suspended in the interim. Deaths from plasma donation are rare in Canada. Only three fatalities have been documented in the last decade, all in Manitoba.