Posted on 10/17/2005 4:23:05 PM PDT by Recovering_Democrat
Will and his partner are like a well-oiled machine when it comes to making their morning coffee.
Will, wanted to donate blood: We never had a fight. Never had one fight.
They have been in a monogamous relationship for five years and recently the couple was moved by the images of the devastation left behind by hurricane Katrina.
Will: I went to donate blood, because I felt like I needed to do something for the hurricane victims.
But before will could even roll up his sleeves, he was told his blood was unwanted. The reason - it wasn't because he was sick or had visited a third world country. Instead, it was because he honestly answered the blood center's survey.
Will: They gave me a questionnaire to fill out and one of the questions was have you ever had sex with a man since 1977. Of course I answered yes.
And with that, Will was told it's perfectly acceptable to be an openly gay man, just not a gay blood donor.
Will: I was turned down because I was gay. I was told that was why I could not donate blood.
For Will, it makes no sense. He feels in this time of need, his blood should be tested before it's turned down. Not to mention, all men and women - regardless of sexual preference - pose a risk. Now, Will says denying his donation is just wrong.
Will: I was in shock more than anything. I just couldn't believe it.
Employees at South Florida's blood centers say Will's not the only one complaining.
Will: A couple of calls from people, particularly those that are in monogamous homosexual relationships, questioning the policy.
But the decision to prohibit only gay men - not gay women - from giving blood comes from the federal government not local blood centers. The food and drug administration has banned gay men from donating since 1983, during the height of the Aids scare.
Will: I know this particular policy has been reviewed in recent years, and there's a push to review it again.
You can count will as one of the people hoping to revise the rule.
Will: It's outdated. I really feel the FDA needs to revisit this law and join us in the new millennium.
Especially in a day and age where there are constant shortages of blood. Will believes it's time to recognize gay men as an untapped resource.
Will: A high population of homosexuals wants to donate blood are safe and monogamous.
"Will and his partner are like a well-oiled machine when it comes to making their morning coffee."
I bet that's not the only thing oiled up...
"How is it russian roulette if the blood is tested and comes out clean?"
There's an incubation period. It can look clean, and a few weeks later, boom!
You have to look at things from the patient's perspective. An injured or ill patient needing a transfusion needs to feel safe agreeing to the procedure. The patient may be in an emotional, vulnerable state and need reassurance. Donor screening gives at least the appearance of added safety.
I needed 2 units of blood in 1987 after an ectopic pregnancy, and I really agonized over the decision. If I had refused, I might have died.
If someone has been turned down as a blood donor for whatever reason, there are certainly other ways to contribute in the community. Donor screening does not exist to humiliate or discriminate -- it exists to protect patients and give them confidence in the system.
Oh, I think they've been tapped plenty.
I can't donate simply because I spent time in the Balkans. There's no evidence that my blood is tainted whatsoever, just the suspicion that it *might* be.
Will needs to get over it.
A valid point. The automatic gainsaying of any discrimination is just one of my hotbuttons.
The blood should be collected and then disposed of without telling anyone. I think thousands of gallons of blood are discarded monthly just because it is outdated. Just dump it out, then the activist have nothing to holler about, which is exactly what they are looking for.
Take the donation...
Put Will's blood in a pink package, clearly marked and indicating where it came from...
Get written permission from any recipient who wants to use it...
When the blood goes over the expiration date, throw it away!
This whole thing is crazy. It's just another drama queen homosexual trying to impose his values and beliefs on unsuspecting members of decent society.
" A valid point. The automatic gainsaying of any discrimination is just one of my hotbuttons."
That's a natural reaction when a large segment of the population seems to live to evidence of discrimination.
So make a monetary donation, dumbass.
"untapped resources" is another dirty picture.
To some people all discrimination is wrong, even if by discrimination we mean good judgement.
The post was verbatim from the link; I checked it thinking a sloppy transcription was responsible for the egegious grammar.
At the link on the site for background on the reporter, there are also errors in spelling and grammar.
I lost a friend and coworker to AIDS. Seems the blood that he got during open heart surgery was bad.
For those that don't know who Bill Kamal is, he used to be the weatherman for WUSA in Washington, DC. He moved from Washington to Miami.
He was arrested in Miami about a year or so ago. For soliciting sex from a minor boy. He is, I think, currently doing time in Florida.
The single biggest reason the other catagory is so small is the no blood donation policy for 20 years.
Think piece.
Unit of blood used to cost about $230.
Included in the cost is the phlebotomist, storage, and a bunch of testing for diseases plus blood typing and looking for antigens.
The cost of blood will have to go up dramatically if gays are allowed to donate.
Why?
The cost of every unit that is tested and discarded will be added into the cost of a unit of good blood.
Appeasement is not the answer.
Yeah I noticed it on the link, although I didn't see the reporter's page. Apparenly just a sloppy site.
Better than that.
Let them start the Gay Blood Network...if somebody want gay blood they can sign a release from indemnity from the hospital and doctors.
Can anybody say Air America.
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