FDA Rethinks Gay Blood Ban May 30, 2010
at 4:04 PM
by Andrew Striker
365gay.com -
FDA Rethinks Gay Blood Ban
The Federal Advisory Committee on Blood Safety and Availability is set to hold a hearing June 10 and 11 to reconsider a FDA rule which bans gay from donating blood, CNN reported.
The rule, implemented in 1983, prevents men who have had sex with another man since 1977 from donating blood. Established during the onset of the HIV/AIDS crisis, it was intended to be a preventive measure from spreading the virus and other transfusion-transmitted diseases.
Today, with new and more effective means for HIV/AIDS testing , many argue that the ban is “medically and scientifically unwarranted.”
Activists, including the Human Rights Campaign, the American Red Cross, America’s Blood Centers and AABB are opposed to the lifetime ban of gay donors. “Potential donors should be screened more fairly regardless of sexual orientation” they said in a joint statement.
Politians have also weighed in on the debate. Senator John Kerry and 17 other senators signed a letter challenging the “outdated policy.”
“Gay men, including those who are in monogoamous relationships, are forbidden from contributing blood for the rest of their lives, while ‘a heterosexual who has had sex with a prostitute need only wait a year [before giving blood]. That does not strike me as a sound scientific conclusion,’” Kerry wrote.
Even so, the Food and Drug Administration stands by their policy. The policy “is based on scientific data that s how that certain medical, behavioral and geographical factors are associated with increases risk of transfusion transmitted diseases,” they told CNN. Still, the agency says it is “considering the possibility of pursing alternative strategies that maintain blood safety.”
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Comments:
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6/12/2010 2:50 PM
Christian
This is very degrading and humilating.I mean the fact that you'd stop someone to save a life because of their sexual prefernce is a new low for humanity.i mean whats this gonna teach to the younger heterosexual children growing and everyone?that gays are bad and a disgrace?i know plenty of succeful,married gay man who dont sleep around with multiplle partner.i have a feeling this gay war is gonna get worse for the years to come if people dont stop pushing us.
I donted before i had any sexual contact with another man so evn if they wouldve asked me what my sex orientation was i would hav still donated cuz i know im clean. i dont really understand kerrys writing. it doesnt sound lyk hes helping us it just sounds lyk he wants ppl that hav had sex with a prostatute not to give.
What's better;
a gay person taking a quick 20min HIV/AIDs test and donating blood to save a persons life
OR
them not being able to save someones live because some people at the FDA think that u could spread deseases?
It's so stereotypical of people thinking that gays all have sex with millions of people and them all having deseases! It gets me angry because they think that the heterosexual people are more safe.
Make them all take STDs test and stop singling out the gays!!!
Even if they are gay, their blood still saves lives!
i'm not gonna name names, but i happen to know someone who donates, even though he's been around a bit. but he knows he's clean. and he gets hiv tests regularly when he's active. for him, he says its a matter of feeling like he's morally responsible to contribute to the supply because he's a valid donor. he ignores the rule. and he saves lives. so i'd say he's being maybe a tiny bit selective in terms of disclosing the required information, but he's still a hero. and uh... @ kirk... i don't think that an hiv+ patient can safely recieve unsafe blood just because theyre infected... could be okay, but it doesnt seem right anyway. everyone should have a chance. to be a donor, if they're clean, regardless of their sexuality, -and to receive clean, healthy blood no matter what.
umm i think that too. but what about the gays with aids who have a loss of blood wouldnt you want to give them "tainted blood" so to speak thats their type too? to save good pure blood?
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