Red Cross ends blood-donation restrictions that singled out gay and bisexual men - eviltoast
The FDA in May dropped a nearly 40-year policy that had singled out men who have sex with men.

The American Red Cross is now allowing gay and bisexual men to donate blood without restrictions that specifically single out a person’s sexual orientation or gender, the nonprofit group said Monday.

  • krayj@sh.itjust.works
    0·
    1 year ago

    Why single out HIV as if it is impossible to filter out of the supply?

    Screening accuracy is lightyears better today than it was decades ago.

    Also, many things on the screening test won’t kill you in the event of a false negative on screening. A false negative for HIV screening meant a certain death sentence for the recipient, and that was true until just a few years ago.

    Why single out HIV

    HIV never was ‘singled out’. There are numerous other behaviors and activities that disqualify a potential donor that have nothing to do with HIV.

    • RagingNerdoholic@lemmy.ca
      0·
      1 year ago

      A false negative for HIV screening meant a certain death sentence for the recipient, and that was true until just a few years ago.

      Are you for fucking real? Don’t pretend it’s not still a life shattering disease.

      You can’t just say, “oh well, it’s not as bad as it used to be.” There’s a vast spectrum between “it won’t kill you” and “it’s a total nothingburger” (wow, does that ever sound familiar). Now you’re immunocompromised, something you definitely do not want in this day and age. Now you risk passing it onto partners and children. Now your quality of life is degraded decades earlier than it otherwise would be.

      Now imagine you contracted it, not because you voluntarily engaged in behaviors and you knew the risks, but because you received life-saving medical care. Then imagine learning it might have been prevented if the organization responsible was concerned with pandering to sexual identity politics than ensuring product safety.

      This is, and has always been, about safety. Screening has improved. Research has provided more data on prevention and monitoring. They wouldn’t have changed the policies otherwise.

      • krayj@sh.itjust.works
        1·
        1 year ago

        So…you agree with my position that Red Cross had good reason for the ban for the past several decades but choose to attack me because my argument wasn’t vicious enough? I think you arguing with the wrong person here, tbh.