Milk banks vs. Internet milk sharing vs. Formula

It's not like this is exactly a new idea. Historically we called them wet nurses. There are still plenty of places in the world where you can find children who nurse from more than one woman. I can see some value in giving a child breast milk from multiple sources. Each source would give the child different antibodies based on that woman's health history. For some women breast feeding is not a possibility so it's nice that they still have the option to give the child breast milk from an alternative source.

However, I can see the risks of online milk trading.  You don't have a medical background on the donor and many diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, can be transfered via breast milk.  I guess I would consider using a milk bank which screens participants or getting milk from a close friend of family member (aunt) if for some reason I couldn't breastfeed, but I doubt I would use an online milk swapping program. 

I believe in the benefits of breastfeeding when possible, however I would not give my baby another woman's milk, especially without proper screening. There are too many risks, and in my opinion they outweigh the benefits. If proper screening is in place, then it's a personal decision whether or not a mother feels it's better to give the stranger's milk vs. formula.

Hrmm....  Are there ways to verify that the woman you receive breast milk from does not have any illnesses that could harm your baby? That would be my biggest concern.