Antiquated U.S. Blood Donation Ban Against Gay Men Contributes to Stigma and Blood Shortages
GMHC Report Explores Alternatives to Lifetime MSM Ban
2.25.2010 - New York, NY - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) currently bans any man who had sex with another man (MSM),
even once, since 1977 from donating blood. The policy does not consider the potential donor's HIV status, frequency or risk of sexual activity,
or if he is in a monogamous relationship. Today, Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) released a report,
A Drive
for Change: Reforming U.S. Blood Donation Policies , detailing the history of the policy,
efforts towards revision, and analysis of alternative donation criteria.
Advances in HIV screening of blood supplies since the 1980s make the chance of receiving a unit of HIV infected blood one in 1.5 million.
Guidance, for most donors, takes into account the "window period," the short period after HIV infection whereby a HIV screening would not detect infection.
"Across the country, we experience critical shortfalls of blood supplies on a consistent basis," said Janet Weinberg, Chief
Operating Officer at GMHC. "Yet only five percent (or less) of Americans that are able to donate blood do so. We call on the FDA to
re-examine discriminatory policies that categorically exclude potential blood donors, including gay and bisexual men," added Weinberg.
The report analyzes alternative recommendations for blood donation by gay and bisexual men using a comprehensive framework to assess
actual risk of HIV transmission and increased availability of blood supplies. The framework, called "DONATE," provides a way to
understand how the use of advanced technology and objective screening standards can decrease the risk faced by recipients of blood
products, while at the same time reducing the discriminatory impact on MSM, expanding the pool of blood donors (thereby reducing
the potential for blood shortages), and raising awareness of HIV/AIDS risk among donors in general, regardless of sexual orientation or gender.
GMHC thanks Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP (Davis Polk) for their immense contribution in researching and writing this report. "We believe
it is important to help GMHC highlight the current challenges with FDA blood donation guidelines," said Joseph Wardenski, a former Davis Polk
associate and primary author of the report. "We hope the report will encourage the FDA to revise its guidelines to be more in step with
current technology and to avoid reinforcing stigma," added Wardenski.
INFORMATION ON CONFERENCE CALL
On Friday, February 26, at 12:30 pm EST, GMHC will host a conference call featuring the report's primary author Joseph Wardenski. The call is
primarily for media but is open to the public as well.
To join the call, please dial 1-800-920-7487 and press 95266285#.
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GMHC is the world's first and leading provider of HIV/AIDS prevention, care and advocacy. Building on decades of dedication
and expertise, we understand
the reality of HIV/AIDS and empower a healthy life for all.
Media Contact:
Krishna Stone | 212.367.1016
Source:
http://www.gmhc.org/news-and-events/press-releases/antiquated-us-blood-donation-ban-against-gay-men-contributes-to-stigma-and-blood-shortages
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