Federal ban on gay men's blood donation to be reconsidered

[CJB]

It's like arguing that it's wrong to ban drinking for 18 years old people because there are mature 18 years old drinkers. Surely, there are but the reality is that 18 years old people are likely to abuse alcohol and that's why we increased the drinking age.

Apples to oranges.

Age isn't like race and sexual orientation in that everyone who is older than 18 has once been underage. Unless you die before 18, each person is underage and then becomes of age. They can't drink and then they can. People are black or gay for their whole lives. If they are banned from donating blood, there isn't a day where they can start donating.

That said, it still makes more sense to focus on the accuracy of HIV testing, because even if blacks or gays do statistically have a higher rate of being HIV+, that speaks nothing to an individual case. A donor whose HIV+ blood gets past the screening gets past the screening. You think the person who gets HIV from the donor is going to care if it was a black gay man or a white straight man? No, in that case all that's relevant is HIV+ or HIV-. Statistics can't be applied to every case because they're only as good as probability. Focus on the testing, not the demographics.

 

[shel90]

In my opinion, everyone is a risk to me...gay, straight, black, white...

I totally agree...If someone asked me if I didnt care or I would take the ones with the least risk, the answer from my previous post is what I will say BUT I cant determine which group is the least risk because like you said, everyone is a risk anyway.

 

[TXgolfer]

Explained

 

[Jiro]

I totally agree...If someone asked me if I didnt care or I would take the ones with the least risk, the answer from my previous post is what I will say BUT I cant determine which group is the least risk because like you said, everyone is a risk anyway.

would you be OK with accepting blood from Las Vegas blood bank, assuming that it has stringent blood screening process?

whatever your answer is - do not worry. It does not make you a racist, bigot, or whatever. I will explain later but I count on honesty and open-mindedness from all.

 

[quirkylibra]

I totally agree...If someone asked me if I didnt care or I would take the ones with the least risk, the answer from my previous post is what I will say BUT I cant determine which group is the least risk because like you said, everyone is a risk anyway.

This is the reason why in the hospital, all patient care employees use contact precautions with every single patient. I don't care who you are or where you came from, I don't trust that you are safe until I know you well enough to trust your word, though, even then I am not safe.

 

[shel90]

would you be OK with accepting blood from Las Vegas blood bank, assuming that it has stringent blood screening process?

whatever your answer is - do not worry. It does not make you a racist, bigot, or whatever. I will explain later but I count on honesty and open-mindedness from all.

Yes, I would accept blood from Vegas...just like I would accept blood from DC and Baltimore. Until this thread, I never really thought about where the blood comes from. I just trust the banks to be stringent with keeping them safe.

 

[Jiro]

Yes, I would accept blood from Vegas...just like I would accept blood from DC and Baltimore. Until this thread, I never really thought about where the blood comes from. I just trust the banks to be stringent with keeping them safe.

for your candid answer.

Just know that the location of blood banks "kind of" don't matter because the blood bags do come from other places - depending on supply-and-demand needs. I too hope that most blood banks do abide by screening process standard higher than "acceptable" standard set by WHO. You may want to ask the hospital where they get its blood from.

I would like the ADers with formal medical knowledge to elaborate more on this part. Please do correct me if I'm wrong about anything.

 

[TXgolfer]

Accepting blood and choosing between 2 different sources for blood are 2 different things. Most likey if you are injured badly enough to need blood you are on the verge of death. Any sane person would take the blood no matter where it is from. However, in choosing between two or mources for blood I feel most sane people are going to chose blood with less statistical risk.

 

[TXgolfer]

for your candid answer.

Just know that the location of blood banks "kind of" don't matter because the blood bags do come from other places - depending on supply-and-demand needs. I too hope that blood banks do abide by screening process standard higher than "acceptable" standard set by WHO. You may want to ask the hospital where they get its blood from.

Then why did you start the location issue with your Las Vegas post

Nevermmind......I don't care.

 

[Jiro]

Accepting blood and choosing between 2 different sources for blood are 2 different things. Most likey if you are injured badly enough to need blood you are on the verge of death. Any sane person would take the blood no matter where it is from. However, in choosing between two or mources for blood I feel most sane people are going to chose blood with less statistical risk.

on the verge of death or not... everybody should have a peace of mind knowing that the blood they received is not tainted.

 

[Jiro]

Then why did you start the location issue with your Las Vegas post

Nevermmind......I don't care.

it's to demonstrate why people think the way they think... such as perceived risk, misconception, unexplained reservation, etc.

 

[TXgolfer]

on the verge of death or not... everybody should have a peace of mind knowing that the blood they received is not tainted.

Ya think?????

You changed you wording from choose to accept though.......There is a difference.

 

[jillio]

It has nothing to do with homophobia or racism if you refuse to accept blood from blacks and gays based on given statistics on their infection rate.

Blacks and gays would be much safer if they accept blood from heterosexual white men than they would if they get it from their own kinds.

It's about public safety.

What about the other risk groups? The rate is rising in heterosexual white women. And heterosexual white men.

"Get if from their own kinds?"

 

[jillio]

So is it safe for me to assume that you'd accept blood from LV Blood Bank that has less statistical risk than Boise (hypothetically of course)?

Looking at risk statistics again provides a false sense of security.

 

[jillio]

In my opinion, everyone is a risk to me...gay, straight, black, white...

Bingo. And those that think they aren't at risk are simply naive.

 

[jillio]

Accepting blood and choosing between 2 different sources for blood are 2 different things. Most likey if you are injured badly enough to need blood you are on the verge of death. Any sane person would take the blood no matter where it is from. However, in choosing between two or mources for blood I feel most sane people are going to chose blood with less statistical risk.

This is going on the presumption that you have that choice. Most people receiving blood do not.