I'm trying to figure out whether to disregard a cruel policy

[cboy4]

about donating blood, and participate for the first time in my company blood drive this weekend.......by lying.

Since I'm gay, I'm banned from donating for life because I'm apparently a huge risk. A bigger risk than straight people who sleep around, even though I'm perfectly healthy.

This horrible prohibition has been in place since 1983, even though:

"New and improved tests, which can detect HIV-positive donors within just 10 to 21 days of infection, make the lifetime ban unnecessary, the blood groups told the FDA. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18827137/

I'd like to donate so I can help others, and I want to be on the National Blood Marrow Donor Program so maybe I can help save someone's life.

It brings me so much joy helping people.

But I'm not wanted because I'm gay. It's so mean.

If I answer my paperwork honestly, I'll be told my blood is dangerous.

I don't think it's fair, especially since there are so many straight people who are at risk.

So now I don't know whether to fib to help. Sigh.


CAUTION: DEADLY CBOY GAY BLOOD. RUN!

===================================================

What is FDA's policy on blood donations from men who have sex with other men (MSM)?

Men who have had sex with other men, at any time since 1977 (the beginning of the AIDS epidemic in the United States) are currently deferred as blood donors. This is because MSM are, as a group, at increased risk for HIV, hepatitis B and certain other infections that can be transmitted by transfusion.

The policy is not unique to the United States. Many European countries have recently reexamined both the science and ethics of the lifetime MSM deferral, and have retained it (See the transcript of the "FDA Workshop on Behavior-Based Donor Deferrals in the NAT Era" at http://www.fda.gov/cber/minutes/nat030806t.htm#7 for further information.). This decision is also consistent with the prevailing interpretation of the European Union Directive 2004/33/EC article 2.1 on donor deferrals.

http://69.20.19.211/cber/faq/msmdonor.htm

[Heidi]

1. I agree with you that it's a discriminatory policy, but is there

a criminal penalty if they find out you've lied on the form?

[cboy4]

3. I'm sure you can face perjury charges for lying about

federal regulation, but I just wonder how the government can prove someone is in violation?

It's really frustrating.

[Heidi]

4. Don't wanna see you get in trouble, but it's been a helluva long time

since gay men were the fastest growing segment of HIV infection, and I believe bigotry is at the heart of this antiquated policy.

[UndertheOcean]

2. I say go for it , lying to bypass an immoral law is not immoral

[WillowTree]

5. A lie is a lie. No matter why you tell it.

[cboy4]

6. How would you feel if someone who needed blood

during a holiday period -- when there are traditionally major shortages -- died all because a gay person wasn't allowed to donate?

You'd rather have a prostitute's blood rather than my perfectly healthy blood?

I don't get it.

And your answer is very mean by the way.

[WillowTree]

7. No meanness intended I assure you, and I do sympathize with how you feel about this.

I just don't condone dishonesty. It kind of goes back to the old "two wrongs not making a right" thing.

But apparently when you posted your thread you were only looking for responses that will validate what you want to do. So be it.

[cboy4]

8. Well, I can tell this Willow Tree.....if lying on an application

about blood donation helped save the life of someone, it's astonishing you'd have a problem with it.

And in fact, I doubt you'd have a problem with it if it affected you or your family.

By the way, if you don't condone dishonesty, I'm guessing you don't exceed the posted speed limit??

I just think a healthy person lying to donate blood to help others is as minor an "offense" as can be.

[Occulus]

11. I hear that when I complain about being kicked out of the house by my mom.

See, it wasn't the fact that I'm gay that bothered her- it was the lying about it.

:eyes:

[Dogmudgeon]

9. There should be a project to repeal this idiotic rule

And I say that as someone who had relatives who died from AIDS contracted from contaminated transfused blood very early in the epidemic.

In 1981, this was a prudent temporary precaution. Today, it's the stuff of dark comedy.

There is NO excuse for tolerating superstition in medicine and the sciences. I can understand taking a long shot, for example, and examining homeopathy in a laboratory setting -- but best practices and public policies based on "cootie theory" have no place in the modern world.

We place warnings on ladders, but we don't tell people not to walk under them; NASA carefully calculates launch and orbital components, but does not cast horoscopes; medicine should follow the same philosophy.

But don't fib.

And don't despair -- organize!

Oh, yes -- thanks for at least trying to give blood. If the straight community had one tenth the brains and compassion of the GLBT community, the world would be a lot better off.

--p!

[OhioChick]

10. That's ridiculous.....

Are people that ignorant to believe that only gay people get/give HIV? (Apparently so)

This bothers me terribly, as you could save lives, want to, but can't. (Unless you do "fib")

Like you, I like to help others, but cannot give blood, either. They won't take mine, as I'm anemic and underweight. Sad thing is, my husband is always getting calls about blood drives because they're always so desperate.

You are right, it's not fair.

[Love Bug]

12. I can't donate blood, either

because I lived in Europe for more than six months back in 1980-81. The reason is because there is an outside chance I may carry the prions for mad-cow disease and there is no way to detect those. One would think that since I haven't developed it in the more than 25 years since living there that would be a good indication I'm prion-free, but better to be safe than sorry. It wouldn't matter if I had been a vegan while living there, either, because the ban would still apply.

Probably 25% of the population is unable to donate blood for one reason or another. Try not to take it personally, ok?

[Mojorabbit]

13. I can't donate either

because I have Multiple Sclerosis and they are not entirely sure what causes it. I got over it though and my way of helping is to help feed the homeless with Food not Bombs. There are more ways than one to give back to society.

[IndianaJones]

14. people are telling you to get over being the object of unjustified discrimination. you whiner. nt.