‘The Australian Red Cross Lifeblood Service is concerned this question could defer existing heterosexual donors who have had anal sex with a new partner or deter those existing heterosexual donors who find it offensive. ‘This policy asks all donors, gay and straight, whether they have had anal sex with a new partner in the last three months. ‘In the UK and other countries that have dropped the gay blood ban, a new policy of individual risk assessment has been adopted,’ he said. Vice President of Just Equal, Rodney Croome, has been lobbying for the removal of barriers to MSM blood donations and told newsGP other countries have not seen a drop in blood donations after changing to individual risk assessments. ‘And they’re actually worried that in an Australian context there would be a number of people offended by that question, and it would negatively affect the number of donations,’ Professor Skerritt said. Professor Skerritt reportedly replied that the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood is reluctant to move to an individual risk assessment because it would involve asking donors about anal sex. The current approach is part of a population-based risk assessment, as opposed to an individual risk assessment. Last week, Greens Senator Janet Rice asked Professor John Skerritt of the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) why men who have sex with men (MSM) still face barriers to blood donation.Ĭurrently, there is a three-month abstinence period requirement for MSM who wish to donate, meaning even if they only engage in oral sex, they are unable to donate. Only 3% of Australians donate blood each year. Maybe someone else will be mine one day, and I don't get to return that favor," Schlaikowski said.A shift to indivdual risk assessments has been floated, as has allowing men who have sex with men to donate plasma. "Why can't I be someone's hero? Someone else can be mine. The institute concludes that increase could help save over one million lives. The Red Cross is currently conducting research in hopes it will help lead to changes in eligibility.Īccording to a study from UCLA's Williams Institute, lifting the restrictions on men who have sex with men could increase annual blood supply by two to four percent. And the one thing that I can do that doesn't cost money is donate the blood that I have, but I can't," Schlaikowski said.īoth the Red Cross and the American Medical Association have also previously urged the FDA to lift the restrictions. "I see these tragic things happen across the country, like what happened in Waukesha. But he wants to do more and said if he could, he'd donate blood every six weeks because his blood type is O-negative and in high demand. Schlaikowski already helps his community in many ways by supporting LGBTQ youth at the Courage MKE group home. Everyone's blood needs to be tested before it's given to someone else." "It's not just the gay community that contracts HIV and AIDS, it's not just the gay community. "I can donate my kidneys, I can donate my organs on my drivers license, but I cannot donate my blood because of who I love," said Schlaikowski. Senators, including Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin (D), was sent asking the FDA "to quickly act on the best available science and update its outdated and discriminatory blood donor deferral policies."īrad Schlaikowski, the Executive Director of Courage MKE, said he's long been frustrated by the policy. In the last week, national advocacy groups have been vocal about urging the FDA to change the policy. That restriction was shortened from 12 months when the pandemic began in 2020. But the current shortage has also renewed a call to lift restrictions on gay and bisexual men to donate blood.Īccording to FDA policy, men who have sex with men have to remain celibate for three months before donating blood to prevent HIV transmission. The Red Cross says the shortage is partly due to a decrease in donors since the COVID-19 pandemic began. At times, as much as one-quarter of hospital blood needs are not being met." The organization called the shortage a crisis and the worst in more than a decade.Īccording to a release, "in recent weeks, the Red Cross had less than a one-day supply of critical blood types and has had to limit blood product distributions to hospitals. MILWAUKEE - Last week the Red Cross announced a national blood shortage that could put patients at risk.
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