Santa Cruz schools rethink blood drives after gay student barred

[Newsjock]

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/16313968.htm

Associated Press

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. - A gay student prevented from donating blood because of his sexual history has stirred debate among Santa Cruz school officials over whether to continue hosting campus blood drives.

... Santa Cruz city schools officials said they were reconsidering whether to have blood drives on campus if students were required to divulge information about their sexual activities.

"As the blood supply has become so politicized over time we need to check our policies," Santa Cruz City Schools Trustee Cynthia Hawthorne said.

In March, the major blood-supply organizations in the U.S., including the American Red Cross, petitioned the FDA to relax the rules on gay men, saying "the current lifetime deferral for men who have had sex with other men is medically and scientifically unwarranted." The issue has not yet been resolved, the Red Cross said.

[donco6]

1. I hate blood drives because of that.

I'm not allowed to donate, but at school I can't really divulge why.

[Infinite Hope]

2. Because of "sexual history" or "sexual orientation?" There's a huge difference. n/t

[LeftyMom]

3. Not really.

A hetero can sleep with anybody and everybody, as long as they don't do it for drugs or money, and still donate blood. You can have a condomless orgy in the parking lot and then donate.

But a gay man can have had one sexual relationship with another man, engaged in low risk activity, used protection, passed two HIV tests since and still not donate, though he's less of a risk to the blood supply by far than a risk-taking heterosexual.

[Solo_in_MD]

10. Sexual history

and it includes male partners if you are male, for money (you or them), IV drug user (you or a partner) and a few other things that I can't recall. IMO they are erring on the side of caution, and I can't say I blame them. I lost a hemophiliac friend to AIDS he got through a transfusion. Given the risks and the lack of perfect testing, I am willing to have them be over cautious

[Deja Q]

4. Note to people who are clean and want to give blood:

Say you're CELIBATE. It's the truth. Well, if you are celibate.

Given the nasty germs get into the blood stream, they have a right to ask any question that's relevant. Sex is relevant.

Or let's not ask any questions and risk a cool pandemic? :crazy:

They also ask if one is on medications; so one's mental health comes into play too.

[WindRavenX]

5. but what does being gay have to do with it?

That's the whole point-- heteros can be as nasty as they want and still donate blood, but safe-sex practicing gays are denied.

[Javaman]

23. That's just it, it has nothing to do with it...

I have always felt it has more to do with at persons sexual disposition rather than safety issues.

All blood is tested, so what is the point in asking if ingage in gay sex?

I wonder if elizabeth dole had anything to do with that?

[tblue37]

16. When my daughter returend from a study-abroad semester in

London at the height of the mad Cow disease scare, she was almost denied the right to give blood (somethign she ahs always done). The only thing that made it okay was that she was a strict vegetarian, so they permitted her to give after all. But back then anyone who traveled to England was not allowed to give blood.

[DU9598]

18. Got it wrong

I don't think anyone is saying there should be no questions asked. What I disagree with is a blanket policy that keeps me as a gay man from donating blood. It is a prejudice in the system based upon sterotypes - and that is wrong.

[Crayson]

19. Ask about DISEASES, not orientation

This is how it should be done:

1) They should ask about whether you know you had any viral diseases and any medication you might take.
You say "Yes", you're out. (and for good)
You say "No" / "Don't know" you're in.

2) Every blood conserve HAS TO BE TESTED anyway. Everything else would be reckless.



===>
Do you care whether gay blood or straight blood saves your life when you're having an open artery gush your life blood out of your body?
In a tough operation you use up blood conserves by the dozen! All from different donors.
All you need is the blood cells transporting oxygen in your body!
They die off within weeks anyway and are replaced by your own new bloodcells from your marrow!

How far can stupidity go???!

[Bridget Burke]

20. Every blood sample is tested....

I used to know a (het) guy who had many lovers. He gave blood every once in a while so he could be tested.

Of course, there's a percentage of error in testing.

[Quantess]

6. It also bars people who have spent a long period of time in Europe,

(can't remember the specified time, like 1 year or something), and I believe, anyone who has ever been to certain countries.

[wellst0nev0ter]

7. Hell, I Was Born In Africa

and nine months later moved to the U.S. I'm celibate and clean, but because I was born in Africa, I can't donate blood.

That's the Red Cross for ya.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

8. It's starting to sound...

Like there are certain other agendas swirling in the Red Cross.

[Solo_in_MD]

11. The American Red Cross is far from the only group collecting blood

and the rules are pretty much the same everywhere.

[Quantess]

13. I doubt it. More likely, they want to avoid getting unhealthy blood donations by any means possible

to avoid getting sued.

Last time I gave blood, they asked in 3 different ways whether I may have come in contact with SARS, and then at the end, they gave me instructions to call and let them know if I had forgotten to mention that I had SARS....

I've stopped giving blood for the time being, but not for any of those reasons. Giving blood gives me too much anxiety and stress, to want to go back.

[LeftyMom]

9. I asked them once about travel to Europe.

If I were to go, I couldn't donate blood due to the risk of BSE.

Apparently it doesn't matter that I'm vegan and BSE comes from meat. :eyes: Ah, blanket rules that leave no room for common sense. Then they bitch about the lack of donors. Perhaps if they stopped excluding people for stupid reasons, it'd be less of an issue.

[Solo_in_MD]

12. Given the litigiousness in the US, especially in health care areas

what they are doing is basically defensive medicine. Anything less and if someone gets sick form a transfusion (not just HIV) and its lawsuit city. I do not hold the blood banks responsible for the current approach under the circumstances.

I assume most here understand autologous donation and why it is so popular these days

[LeftyMom]

14. Yeah, I get it, but it reminds me of Zero Tolerance Policies in school.

Anytime you remove any capacity for flexibility and thinking response to the situation, stupid things happen.

[Solo_in_MD]

15. I thank the legal profession for Zero Tolerance as well...

[Quantess]

17. There is a lot of conflicting pressure in donating blood!

There is pressure to give blood, (especially if you have ever donated blood before), and once you're there, they act as though you're really excited about giving blood, which gives them the prerogative to crank up the stress level.
I finally said no, and make "no" stick. The people who do the phone calling are apparently NOT the same people who take your blood, because they don't seem to understand how it can be stressful or anxiety-causing.

Edit to say: Kudos to regular blood donors. Some people enjoy it and don't find it stressful. I encourage people to give blood at least once in their lifetime.

[Bridget Burke]

21. Many groups have "petitioned the FDA to relax rules on gay men"....

Including the Red Cross. How many people here read that bit?

Here are the Red Cross criteria for donors. www.redcross.org/services/biomed/0,1082,0_557_,00.html

You will see that they are very broad & probably disqualify many who have healthy blood. But--even though blood is tested (for testable organisms), there's still the possility of error.

Unfortuately, the rules enable many to refuse donation out of "solidarity"--when they are really afraid of a needle stick. Another poster said that blood donors "enjoy" the procedure. It's not much fun--but people do NEED the blood.

[Javaman]

22. What is so completely stupid about asking people of their sexual history is...

The various agencies, not only the American Red Cross, all test for aids on all donations.

So asking someone their sexual history is completely irrelevant. It's nothing more than invasion of privacy.

So these stupid bastards at this school are going to stop something that is already poorly promoted and degrade a desperately needed service.

Fools.

I just have to wonder given the current atmosphere regarding the stupid ignorant war against gays, if this decision had anything to do with someones personal agenda instead?

Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, that could never happen. :sarcasm: