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Amid critical blood shortage red cross refuses to take blood from MLM

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2018 5:52 am
by Fuzzy Necromancer
https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/red ... gs.nu2CqVk

Or people who have sex with men who have sex with men, or sex workers.

Re: Amid critical blood shortage red cross refuses to take blood from MLM

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2018 9:30 pm
by Darth Wedgius
The test for Hep B can take u to 6 months to really be diagnostic, and it has a higher incidence in MSM. Also, the gay population is a few percent, so opening up donations to gay men who have been celibate for only six months won't really solve the blood supply problem.

Re: Amid critical blood shortage red cross refuses to take blood from MLM

Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2018 2:04 am
by Robovski
Isaac Asimov contracted HIV from a blood transfusion. He didn't reveal this while he was alive to avoid panic.

Re: Amid critical blood shortage red cross refuses to take blood from MLM

Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2018 2:53 am
by Fuzzy Necromancer
Darth Wedgius wrote: Mon Jul 30, 2018 9:30 pm The test for Hep B can take u to 6 months to really be diagnostic, and it has a higher incidence in MSM. Also, the gay population is a few percent, so opening up donations to gay men who have been celibate for only six months won't really solve the blood supply problem.
So? Lots of groups have higher risk factors, but that doesn't stop them from testing the blood for every disease they can and doesn't change that it's a rather bigoted practice. They used to ban black people from giving blood on the basis of Sickle Cell risk.

Re: Amid critical blood shortage red cross refuses to take blood from MLM

Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2018 5:53 pm
by Darth Wedgius
Fuzzy Necromancer wrote: Tue Jul 31, 2018 2:53 am
Darth Wedgius wrote: Mon Jul 30, 2018 9:30 pm The test for Hep B can take u to 6 months to really be diagnostic, and it has a higher incidence in MSM. Also, the gay population is a few percent, so opening up donations to gay men who have been celibate for only six months won't really solve the blood supply problem.
So? Lots of groups have higher risk factors, but that doesn't stop them from testing the blood for every disease they can and doesn't change that it's a rather bigoted practice. They used to ban black people from giving blood on the basis of Sickle Cell risk.
Is there a group with a higher incidence of HIV and/or Hep B who don't have a waiting period like this?

Re: Amid critical blood shortage red cross refuses to take blood from MLM

Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2018 1:58 am
by Fuzzy Necromancer
Stuart Semple weighs in http://bloodisbloodshirt.org/

Re: Amid critical blood shortage red cross refuses to take blood from MLM

Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2018 2:56 pm
by Antiboyscout
Fuzzy Necromancer wrote: Wed Aug 08, 2018 1:58 am Stuart Semple weighs in http://bloodisbloodshirt.org/
Contaminated blood is not just blood. There is no quick test for HIV that can be done before drawing blood, so all the blood you get is a crap-shoot. On top of that, infected blood is actually a drain on resources because it has to be disposed of as infectious medical waste.

Re: Amid critical blood shortage red cross refuses to take blood from MLM

Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2018 3:08 pm
by Darth Wedgius
Fuzzy Necromancer wrote: Wed Aug 08, 2018 1:58 am Stuart Semple weighs in http://bloodisbloodshirt.org/
Performance art vs. facts. Tough choice.

Re: Amid critical blood shortage red cross refuses to take blood from MLM

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2018 12:23 pm
by Fuzzy Necromancer
You want facts?
The group at the highest rate for HIV transmission is heterosexual poor urban couples. Because they generally have trouble affording condoms. But they don't have a special check box that will ban them outright from giving blood.

If a woman has ever had sex with a man who has sex with men, she's banned from giving blood, and how is she supposed to figure that out?

It's based on fear, not reason.

Re: Amid critical blood shortage red cross refuses to take blood from MLM

Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2018 4:32 am
by Beastro
Fuzzy Necromancer wrote: Thu Aug 09, 2018 12:23 pm It's based on fear, not reason.
Caution is reasonable given the circumstances.