US: FDA ‘to consider’ relaxing gay blood ban
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http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/11/28/us-fda-to-consider-relaxing-gay-blood-ban/
28th November 2014, 5:03 PM
US: FDA ‘to consider’ relaxing gay blood ban
The Food and Drug Administration will meet next week to consider recommendations to lift the permanent ban on gay men giving blood.
In the US at present, regulations introduced during the AIDS crisis mean that all men who have sex with men are currently banned from giving blood for life.
However, critics say the practice is discriminatory and does not reflect modern screening practices, and the FDA is facing calls to introduce less discriminatory rules.
Earlier this month, a key advisory committee made recommendations that the regulations should be relaxed, voting 16-2 in favour of instead introducing a 12 month ban for MSM, similar to the UK.
FDA advisers will meet next week to consider the recommendations – which might not be adopted, as they are non-binding.
FDA spokeswoman Jennifer Rodriguez told The Hill: “Following deliberations taking into consideration the available evidence, the FDA will issue revised guidance, if appropriate.”
National Gay Blood Drive activist Ryan James Yezak said: “We’ve got the ball rolling. I feel like this is a tide-turning vote.
“There’s been a lot of feet dragging and I think they’re realizing it now.” -
It's about time. The FDA have been a bunch of zealots about this for years. There are literally hundreds of thousands of candidate donors out there with perfectly clean blood. It's time to make a change!
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After refusing to change the lifetime ban in November 2014, they changed their minds on 23 Dec 2014.
Starting in 2015 (exact date unsure), gays can give blood if they have not had sex with another man for 1 year.
