Blood Donations?

Question

What do you guys think about that rule stating that any male that has had same s*x relations cannot give blood for the rest of their lives?

Also, I was thinking.....Why the h**l would you not be able to donate? Do they just take your blood and automaticlly transfer it to the next person? Isnt all blood tested?? So why should all g*y men be banned. Heteros have aids too!!! What the h**l is wrong with people

Because of this I will never give blood again.

Answer 1

You are going to punish people who desperately need blood because blood banks don't accept blood from people they deem high risk? That's the only group you are punishing by not giving blood.

I agree that the policy seems to not really be about blood safety but more about misplaced fear, as this policy ignores the health risk posed by heterosexual donors who've been exposed to HIV or AIDS, or hepatitis, for that matter. But you should keep giving blood -- and also keep advocating that blood banks implement more reasonable, appropriate blood screening policies.

Answer 2

I guess this is one of the occassions where better safe than sorry is the best option.  There are a lot of people who are excluded from giving blood...people who've been in certain countries, including England, people who've had tatoos or dental surgery within certain time frames, people who have ever had cancer, who are too thin or who have insufficient iron.  The rules exist to protect people.  HIV isn't exactly a cold.  They don't want to take any chances of being responsible for someone getting it.  I'm sorry you feel offended, but I think it's an appropriate rule under the circumstances.

Answer 3

There is a greater likelihood of AIDS and other infections in the blood of ppl who have had same s*x s*x especially males.   Because many yrs ago I watched a friends 2 babies die slowly and in agony because  of an AIDS infected blood transfusion the mom received after giving birth to her first child I am radically in favor of doing anything and everything to keep the blood supply safe.  I also know that AIDS symptoms may not show up in the person for yrs so they might not know they were at risk for spreading infection.  

BTW all potential blood donors are asked questions to determine risk not just those with same s*x affiliations and people who are hetro are also screened out because of potential risk factors not just HIV risks but many other things.    They are also screened to be sure that donating will not be potentially  harmful to the donor.   There is also a small but very real risk that the nurse or tech drawing the blood could be infected buy an accidental stick.  

Now I have a question for you, why would anyone who knew there was a risk of their having anything (not just HIV but anything) in their blood that could harm the person receiving it want to donate blood and put another person's life at risk?

Answer 4

Great Question Zee...I think it is because no-one wants to get sued for transferring the blood of a g*y man to a homophobes who will sue if they get HIV or AIDS...blaming the blood as the only possible way they could have contracted the virus rather than taking their own sexual activities or partners under consideration. Better safe than sorry. Even though the blood is tested, we still live in a world filled will ill educated bigots who have biased opinions toward the LGBT Community.

Considering that most humans lie about their sexual activities, partners, and condom usage leaves too many questions without truthful answers...If there were a way to open the minds and force those who donate to tell the truth about such things, this might no longer be an issue...but we all know that even a lie detector test can be beat...