Whos a Blood Doner

[Maelbrigda]

i too cannot give because of my medication but over te years i gave 21 donations

[countryfeedback87]

Anyone have thoughts on this?

Surely such an outdated approach to not allow gay men to give blood is isolating possibly a very large amount of donators

[astral276]

Anyone have thoughts on this?

Surely such an outdated approach to not allow gay men to give blood is isolating possibly a very large amount of donators

I would assume that refusing the blood unless the conditions are met are based on valid medical grounds. When it comes to risking the lives of others you can shove political correctness where the sun doesn't shine.

[CarnoustieCats]

Does Anybody Remember The Tony Hancock Donor Episode

Coughs and sneezes spread diseases? An arm full?

[countryfeedback87]

When it comes to risking the lives of others you can shove political correctness where the sun doesn't shine.

How is it political correctness??!

The policy is basically saying that all gay men are diseased. A gay man who has only ever had one partner and is always safe can't give blood yet a straight man who sleeps with a different woman every night and doesn't wear protection can??

As far as I know, all blood donated is tested anyway. It's an out-dated, bigoted approach, especially when stock levels are falling. It should be based on your sexual behaviour, not your sexual partner.

Oh, and it applies to Oral sex as well. So a man who performs oral sex on a man CAN'T donate blood, but a woman who performs oral sex on a man CAN. This is not joined up thinking on any level !!

[sidthelamp]

the point here is it does not matter if its politicaly correct or not, its how the general population view the matter
if for instance it was implemented the authorities might see people who need a transfusion refusing blood for fear of catching some thing ,then people might die, the repercussions could be endless,

theres a perceived fear

[countryfeedback87]

If someone dies because they didn't want to take blood that MIGHT have come from a gay man, well, more fool them!

Like I say, the blood is tested anyway and the NHS will save MORE people if they change their outdated bigoted policies and allow perfectly safe blood to be donated. My ex, who actually is now a paramedic with the East of England ambulance service, used to donate regularly but had to stop when we were together, despite him having exactly the same blood!!

[sidthelamp]

If someone dies because they didn't want to take blood that MIGHT have come from a gay man, well, more fool them!

Like I say, the blood is tested anyway and the NHS will save MORE people if they change their outdated bigoted policies and allow perfectly safe blood to be donated. My ex, who actually is now a paramedic with the East of England ambulance service, used to donate regularly but had to stop when we were together, despite him having exactly the same blood!!

the point being it would not just be one man or woman that refused, which wouldbring the service into disrepute

the blood is tested you say, ok thats slightly ambiguous, what is the blood tested for, how many tests, does a donation go through, is for example a test for aids a seperate test, if it is what the time and cost involved,

im not agreeing with you or against you im just stating some reasons why gay men cant give blood as i see it,

and another point i forgot to mention it could be some religions would not take blood from a gay person,

[astral276]

How is it political correctness??!

Because you are basing the argument that the refusal to accept blood is because the donor is gay, that is sexual discrimination, and they should be made to accept the blood to end that discrimination.

From Give Blood:

I'm safe as I'm in a stable monogamous relationship. Why can't I donate?

The blood donor selection criteria set by the Department of Health are based on evidence and advice provided by the UK governments' independent Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO). The donor criteria are based on statistical risks for sexual behaviour associated with men who have sex with men rather than an individual's specific sexual history or sexuality and there is a specific provision in the Equality Act 2010. We are sorry for any inadvertent offence this causes.

So you are not being discriminated against because you are gay but being refused because you are a statistical risk - as are other groups of people (e.g. those who have travelled outside the UK within the last six months).

The Give Blood site gives perfectly good reasons in answer to all the questions posed by your initial post. Therefore arguing it can only be down to a PC stance to have what you want as a gay to override the rights and welfare of anyone else.

[countryfeedback87]

From the quote you've given...

"The donor criteria are based on statistical risks for sexual behaviour associated with men who have sex with men rather than an individual's specific sexual history"

This is what is being campaigned against. In my example above, a man who performs oral sex on a man CANNOT donate blood, a woman who performs oral sex on the same man CAN... this is discriminatory purely because it's a gay act, not a straight act! What about a man who has unprotected anal sex with a transgender female?

The policy is basically saying that all gay men sleep around and don't wear protection... an offensive stereotype and they are isolating so many potential donors and life-savers. This is what needs to be changed.

If you or a loved one needed an urgent blood transfusion, would you care where it came from if it is going to save your/their life?

Acceptance should be based on your sexual behaviour, not your sexual partner.

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