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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by pseudoname on March 7, 2006, at 17:55:55
News item:
“The federal Food & Drug Administration will meet this week to hear arguments from organizations that want the government to revise guidelines on a 23-year old policy prohibiting gay men from donating blood.
“The American Red Cross has continued to support the ban, while other blood banks have advocated for a less restrictive policy. But now the Red Cross may be throwing its support behind a push to revise the nationwide ban.”
YAAAYY!!
I haven't donated blood since the late 1980s, despite being HIV-negative and having no exposure to risk in 12 years. My blood is safer than that of many, many others who are allowed to donate. I *want* to donate blood, but I wouldn't lie to them, so I couldn't.
This is very, very, very good news.
Posted by James K on March 7, 2006, at 18:19:29
In reply to GAY MALE blood donors!!, posted by pseudoname on March 7, 2006, at 17:55:55
Wow, this hits me on many interesting levels. I'm banned from giving blood, which is something I am a big fan of. I don't know why. I must have checked the wrong answer some time 10 years ago and they wouldn't tell me why I'm banned. I'm hetero, haven't traveled, no tatoos etc. whatever.
I did spend 5 years working as a file clerk on law suits where hemophiliacs got aids from bad blood mixed into the factor they got. I worked on the defense side. The deaths were tragic, but this was in the really early days, before HIv was known. The pharmaceutical companies claim, and I kind of believe them, was that they took plasma from skid row, and "gay" parts of town because they wanted hepatitis antibodies in the product to protect their clients. Once they found a way to heat treat the finished product, it was moot, except for the infected young men. I've never heard of heat treating for donated blood, but it seemed to be a possibility 10 years ago, so I don't know what happened.
But with testing, and the fact that HIV isn't even close to being a "gay" disease anymore, I'm glad they see sense. I'm rambling, I have to get out the door to go vote in the primaries, but congratulations on getting back (maybe) the right to be a good citizen.
James K
Posted by pseudoname on March 7, 2006, at 18:42:12
In reply to Re: GAY MALE blood donors!! » pseudoname, posted by James K on March 7, 2006, at 18:19:29
> congratulations on getting back (maybe) the right to be a good citizen
Thanks!
> I'm banned from giving blood ... and they wouldn't tell me why I'm banned.
That's astonishing. And perplexing. Call those lawyers you worked for, LOL.
Posted by Racer on March 7, 2006, at 19:17:13
In reply to Re: GAY MALE blood donors!! » James K, posted by pseudoname on March 7, 2006, at 18:42:12
Posted by Voce on March 8, 2006, at 0:27:46
In reply to GAY MALE blood donors!!, posted by pseudoname on March 7, 2006, at 17:55:55
Since AIDS isn't a "gay" disease anymore, I always wondered why they didn't update their questions. Plenty of straight people have HIV. Don't they test every pint of blood for HIV? And anyway, isn't it a crime to knowingly infect the blood supply with HIV? I think it may be in my state. Again, I stress *knowingly* infect.
I'm a one gallon donor, BTW.
Posted by 838 on March 8, 2006, at 4:16:03
In reply to GAY MALE blood donors!!, posted by pseudoname on March 7, 2006, at 17:55:55
hmm. i have trouble with that policy myself... i mean... gay or straight... don't they test ALL the blood for HIV etc before giving it to anyone? if so then... whats the problem?
i can't comprehend...
really.
then there is a point that typically gay people practice safer sex than non gay people (because gay people have had the risk drummed into them). then there is the point that... you can be gay without being involved in a relationship (just like you can be pretty sure your not gay without being involved in a relationship). then there is the point that... gay people can have monogomous relationships just like non gay people can.unbelievable...
but don't even get me started...
still... at least it is changing i guess... no point beating a dead horse etc (though don't get me started on gay people not being allowed in the military....)
Posted by pseudoname on March 8, 2006, at 7:40:05
In reply to Re: GAY MALE blood donors!! » pseudoname, posted by Voce on March 8, 2006, at 0:27:46
> Yeah, it's about behavior, not identity
A woman who had sex with the same man I had sex with has no restrictions on giving blood because of it, but I do.
> I'm a one gallon donor, BTW.
Thank you, Voce! My family members have gotten a lot of plasma infusions. Often we’ve had to drive 70 miles or wait 36 hours because enough blood wasn’t available. Thank you, thank you.
Posted by JenStar on March 8, 2006, at 10:56:00
In reply to GAY MALE blood donors!!, posted by pseudoname on March 7, 2006, at 17:55:55
that IS good news! :) Are you going to donate blood in celebration? I've donated blood several times in my life, and it always gives me a good warm feeling (in addition to huge yellow and purple hematomas on my arm.)
JenStar
Posted by pseudoname on March 8, 2006, at 11:01:34
In reply to Re: GAY MALE blood donors!! » pseudoname, posted by JenStar on March 8, 2006, at 10:56:00
> Are you going to donate blood in celebration?
Thanks for your encouragement, Jen. When they change the rules, I hope I will be there on the very first day. In fact, I think I'll try to do exactly that. Maybe I'll even call the news!
Posted by Racer on March 8, 2006, at 14:13:53
In reply to Re: GAY MALE blood donors!! » pseudoname, posted by Voce on March 8, 2006, at 0:27:46
>
>
> I'm a one gallon donor, BTW.Good for you!
I was going for the 10 gallon plaque at my old blood bank, where they credit you for giving blood. Give 10 gallons, and you'll get blood products free if you ever need them, and can transfer it to your immediate family. Plus the plaques for 10 gallons are a lot nicer than the plaque for 5 gallons :^D But then I moved, the blood banks I've been to since haven't credited, and I stopped paying attention to how much I'd given. I think I might be over a gallon, by now, though.
Giving blood is A Very Good Thing To Do, and it's the easiest way I can think of to build up good karma. And, with all the blood borne diseases out there -- beyond AIDS -- I do think people who can donate should donate. (Even if I feel guilty saying anyone "should" do anything...)
Also, one of the scariest things I can remember was a call I got early one New Year's Day morning -- a friend who's wife was doing an ER rotation in her residency, calling to say that she'd just called to say that they had just used the very last unit of blood available in the city, and could I donate that day? I really couldn't, because I'd donated too recently, but the blood bank was allowing donors who were near eligible to donate again. Still -- imagine you or a family member getting to the ER after an accident, and finding out that there was no blood? After that, I had a standing appointment at the blood bank, except when my weight was too low.
Just started donating again, by the way, although technically my weight has been eligible for almost a year now.
Posted by Voce on March 8, 2006, at 14:15:24
In reply to Re: Yeah » Racer » Voce, posted by pseudoname on March 8, 2006, at 7:40:05
<A woman who had sex with the same man I had sex with has no restrictions on giving blood because of it, but I do.>
Well actually, in my state they ask if I've ever had sex with a man who had sex with another man. So I would be restricted if I had slept with a man who had slept with another man.
<Thank you, Voce!>
You're very welcome. I inquired once if I could give plasma but I guess they don't need my blood type (I'm O+). Also I don't have good veins in both arms, just my left.
Posted by Poet on March 8, 2006, at 18:36:58
In reply to GAY MALE blood donors!!, posted by pseudoname on March 7, 2006, at 17:55:55
Hi pseudoname.
It's about time that sexual orientation was not used to discriminate against blood donation. Another stereotype down, many more to go, but this is a real good start.
Poet
Posted by Phillipa on March 8, 2006, at 19:10:10
In reply to Re: GAY MALE blood donors!!, posted by Poet on March 8, 2006, at 18:36:58
Yes they do test the blood. Fondly, Phillipa ps if you want to know if you are HIV positive donate blood.
Posted by Racer on March 8, 2006, at 20:01:05
In reply to Re: GAY MALE blood donors!!, posted by Phillipa on March 8, 2006, at 19:10:10
> if you want to know if you are HIV positive donate blood.
Sorry -- this sort of thing came up at my old blood bank. Please, if you want to know if you are HIV+, get tested. Please don't donate blood in order to find out, it puts a further stress on an already overstressed system.There are other low cost testing services.
(On the other hand, I started giving platelets instead of whole blood in order to get free testing for the bone marrow donor registry. That's OK, and something else I encourage.)
Posted by Tamar on March 11, 2006, at 19:09:40
In reply to Re: GAY MALE blood donors!!, posted by Phillipa on March 8, 2006, at 19:10:10
> Yes they do test the blood. Fondly, Phillipa ps if you want to know if you are HIV positive donate blood.
Or... get pregnant. Where I live, most pregnant women are tested for HIV. That's how I know I'm negative (unless of course my husband has infected me within the last 12 months...)
On the other hand, my fave line for turning down unwelcome attention from a stranger is to claim I don't know my HIV status...
I'm really rambling now...
Tamar
P.S. I agree with Racer: there are lots of places to get HIV status checked cheaply and anonymously. Giving blood isn't the best way to go about it; other places will often offer counselling...
Posted by Phillipa on March 11, 2006, at 22:29:27
In reply to Re: GAY MALE blood donors!!, posted by Tamar on March 11, 2006, at 19:09:40
I need to clarify that post. I did not mean use a blood bank to find out if you are HIV just that if you were are and donated blood they would tell you. No No don't donate blood just to find out if you are. So sorry I posted that wrong. If this isn't clear I try to make it clearer. Again I'm sorry. Love Jan
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