Give.......
- Thread starter panther
- Start date
LOL on that questionair... why dose it ask if you have had oral/anal sex with another man (if your a man your self). Why do they need to know that? How come it dose not ask if you have had oral with a woman??
From
a very confused ALEC
LOL anyone going to answer? lol
Im serious as i find it quite offensive really that they lable people as you know "gay, homo" and they instantly think they are not worth doing it
Alec
Last edited:
In answer to your question. The reason why the Blood Transfusion Service don't want the blood from high risk groups, such as gay or bisexual men, or intravenous drug users, is that in the early to mid eighties a lot of people were infected by HIV after receiving blood that was carrying the virus. Blood can be screened nowadays, but that would be much more costly than just not accepting blood from those groups deemed a high risk. A decision that I fully accept as the right one in this instance.
Lettie knows all about this, but she's still in Australia. She told me all about it, as she did her dissertstion for her degree on HIV.
As far as I know blood is now screened for the HIV virus, amongst other things. That blood could be used safely if it was 'washed', but this wouldn't be cost effective, as it is relatively expensive to do.
People could of course lie. I've written before about someone I used to work with. In theory he was in a low risk group, ie: solely hetrosexual, and not a drug user. The fact that he visited prostitutes every lunchtime, and according to him didn't always have protected sex, is another story.
They don't want my blood either;I gave quite a lot before I had my daughter but since I had to have a plasma transfusion during my c-section I can't give again! That was way back too,you would think some sort of screening could sort it out!
I am a big wimp when it comes to doctors and hospitals, and would love to be able to get over it. Fortunately I can have a clear conscious though as I am not allowed to give blood cos of my job (working in pressurised environment). Although I never gave blood before I started flying - but at the moment, that is my excuse! Although I do think that everyone should have to give blood if it is safe for them to do so. If you dont give it then you shouldnt receive it. Thats my opinion anyway.