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Federal ban on gay men's blood donation to be reconsidered
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| Parent(s) |
Issue
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| Contributor | RP |
| Last Edited | RP May 26, 2010 02:11pm |
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| Category | Rule Change |
| Author | Madison Park |
| Media | TV News - CNN |
| News Date | Wednesday, May 26, 2010 08:10:00 PM UTC0:0 |
| Description | Under Food and Drug Administration rules, men who have had sex -- even once -- with another man since 1977 are not permitted to give blood. The rule was implemented in 1983, sparked by concerns that HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, was tainting the blood supply. Screening tests to identify HIV-positive blood had not been developed. The policy was seen as a safety measure.
But today, with the availability of more accurate testing, activists, blood organizations and several U.S. senators say the lifetime ban is "medically and scientifically unwarranted" and are calling for change.
The Federal Advisory Committee on Blood Safety and Availability will consider the issue in meetings June 10 and 11 in Rockville, Maryland. The committee makes recommendations to the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the FDA. |
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