Should the FDA Allow Gay Men to Donate Blood?

As a blood donor with a few gallons along the way, I know it can be frustrating to want to do "good" and yet be told no. Over the years, as more and more restrictions have come out- lived in Europe during the Mad Cow era? Been out of the country for longer than a certain length of time? Had your ears pierced or gotten a tattoo lately? These things can knock you out of giving blood also.

Perhaps there are other uses that donated blood can be utilized to benefit mankind.

I remember a dying mother in Atlanta who had been a victim of violence. She lost the child she was carrying and after pints and pints of blood, then she lost her life. They donated her organs to perhaps a dozen people. A victory in the face of loss. Then 3-4-6 months later, they found that 1 donor of all of those pints of blood became HIV positive. They had to go and tell all of those people, thouse sisters and brothers, or mother and fathers, that Yes, they got the organ, but they may have gotten something else. They now live under a cloud of fear as they periodically go to get tested to make sure that the organ they received did not come with an addition no one suspected.

This is not a matter of who one choses for a partner for males. It should also be for females. It is not just risky sexual behavior. It is any risky behavior- share a bed or share a needle.

I sometimes think that we are about to be down to two or three of us as donors. Everytime I read the literature before I donate, it seems someone else has to be excluded. But, if it were my mother or sister, my father or brother who was to get the transfusion or the organ- Hell Yes, I say exclude them. Do Not have people grateful for a gift that turns out to be something that will kill or debilitate them.

In the end - It is Not about the gay or bisexual male. It is NOT about you, it is about the person on the other end of the transfusion or the transplant. Do not try to make it about you. It is about the other person.

Again- science should be able to do good with donated blood even if it is not used in transfusions. These people should also find other ways to 'donate' with out trying to violate rules that have been developed for the good of the nation and the recipients of blood and organs.

No one in my family's life is worth that risk.

I give blood and encourage others to give blood so that it is there when we as a society need it. So that it is untainted and worth someone receiving it. I am an organ donor for the same reason. I would just donate the body to science if it was any chance that it would leave the recipient in a worse condition upon receipt.

MF Cleaveland of GA 3:12PM August 30, 2010