Did you know....?

[septemberrein]

I hope y'all don't mind my posting this here but felt the need to vent it.

A very dear, longtime friend of mine passed away a couple of months ago. His partner and their son wanted to donate his organs. The hospital he was at refused based on the fact that he was gay.

I never knew there were any such guidelines in place regarding harvesting organs from a gay man, and it made me quite angry to hear it.

Any thoughts, insight are welcome.. and if I've offended anyone with this post, I apologize.

[AncientWolf]

I hope y'all don't mind my posting this here but felt the need to vent it.

A very dear, longtime friend of mine passed away a couple of months ago. His partner and their son wanted to donate his organs. The hospital he was at refused based on the fact that he was gay.

I never knew there were any such guidelines in place regarding harvesting organs from a gay man, and it made me quite angry to hear it.

Any thoughts, insight are welcome.. and if I've offended anyone with this post, I apologize.

No offense taken at all. It is also true that any male who has had homosexual sex since the 1970's even ONCE is not allowed to donate blood. I found this out during a blood drive at the college I was attending at the time. I was really disappointed. I understand the fear of AIDS and things of that nature, but with all the testing that can be done today and the rate at which AIDS and other diseases are spreading across ALL populations it seems a bit ridiculous to me for them to have such rules. That's my opinion anyways. Thanks for posting.

Daniel

[stormsun]

Recently my best friend died of AIDS, he was gay and of course could not, nor would not donate blood,or organs, he felt that gays or people that had gay sex were banned from giving blood because straight people would stop giving blood or would start storing thier own for thier own use only.I also think that it takes a while to detect HIV in donated blood. People have a lot of fear of gay people whether homophobic or not. My friend took care of his neice for 21 years who has cerebal palsy and a number of other issues. He fed her, changed her, bathed her, and most of all loved her. He was never asked if he had Gay sex before he was allowed to take care of her.

[Maxs9th]

Hi September,
I just read your post. I am sorry about your friend. I think it is especially offensive and discriminatory because HIV and AIDS cases in gay populations have dropped while they are steadily rising in the straight community. Straight people have unprotected sex and are contracting HIV at an alarming rate...
Take care of yourself,
Gabe

[septemberrein]

Hi September,
I think it is especially offensive and discriminatory because HIV and AIDS cases in gay populations have dropped while they are steadily rising in the straight community. Straight people have unprotected sex and are contracting HIV at an alarming rate...
Take care of yourself,
Gabe


Thank you Gabe! That is one of the main reasons I was so bothered by the whole situation. When I researched whether or not it was legal, it was targeting GAY MEN. Now, what about the husband or wife that cheats... the spouse never finds out about it... Maybe he/she contracted HIV/AIDS but its too early to test for it.... a month later he/she is killed in a car accident and organs are donated. But only Gays are discriminated against organ donation based on their sexual lifestyle.

Not to start a political debate here but the organ donation bothers me as much as the Constitutional Ammendment we(WI) are to vote on this month.

Anyhow... thanks for reading!

[brians2000]

Hello all, It is true that a man who has had sex with another man cannot donate blood. I received Hepatitis B in 1986 during a blood transfusion because testing was not very good back then. I was told I received something from blood but they did not tell me until I had a series of test. I was afraid I had got HIV but they told me I had not. Since 1986 testing has gotten so much better but even today I cannot donate blood for anyone even though I never got sick from hepatitis. I have also heard if you have had cancer in the past five years you cannot donate. I know it is hard when a gay person hears they cannot donate but that is something that most likely wont be changed whether it is a good or bad thing. Good Luck to everyone.Brian

[Jolene]

Many people who work in health care can't donate either. Simply because there is an added risk that they have been exposed to something. Also if you are a type II diabetic you can't donate even if you have it controlled. So there are many preventables.