Is bloodletting and blood donation are the same?

While both involve the loss of whole blood, therapeutic phlebotomy is used for treatment in specific medical conditions, such as hemochromatosis, polycythemia vera, pure red cell hyperplasia, porphyria cutanea tarda, etc. Volunteer blood donation requires potential donors to meet strict medical health criteria, per FDA and American Association of Blood Banks guidelines. The FDA does, however, allow hemochromatosis patients to become volunteer blood donors IF there are no underlying medical conditions AND the collection center has filed for an exemption form the FDA.