- Reaction score
- 1,472
- Points
- 940
I'm sure some of you have read this or have been following it in the news. I feel this puts a better perspective on why Blood Services does not want to use the man's blood.
Article Link
OTTAWA -- A gay man testified Tuesday that he lied when asked if he’d had sex with other men when giving blood because he knew he’d be “blacklisted” and wanted his donations to help others.
Kyle Freeman, 36, said he felt he wasn’t at risk because he got HIV tests regularly and didn’t have unprotected anal sex except with a long-term partner when both had been tested. The court has heard, however, that he contracted syphilis and gonorrhea.
Canadian Blood Services is suing Freeman for lying when he gave blood.
The Thornhill, Ont., man is countersuing, arguing the agency’s lifetime ban on donations from men who’ve had sex with another man — even once — since 1977 is scientifically unjustified and violates his constitutional rights.
“My father was a blood donor — we were always taught that’s the ultimate way to help people,” Freeman told the court. “It’s the ultimate gift you can give someone.”
Freeman’s lawyer, Patricia LeFebour, started taking him through each of his 18 blood donations, starting in high school. He repeatedly said no when asked by nurses if he’d had sex with other men.
“I felt my risk was non-existent,” he said. “I don’t believe I participated in high-risk activities because I used a condom and got tested.”
“I wanted the blood to be used. I knew that if I would have answered yes I would have been excluded from having my blood used. Once they found out I was in a same-sex relationship I would not be able to donate blood anymore.
“I would be blacklisted.”
More on link
Some points (all my opinion):
Giving blood is not a right, it's a privilege, therefore, his rights are not being violated.
People who have lived in the UK for a certain amount of time are also banned for life, due to the risk of BSE.
If you visit a malarious area, you are not allowed to give whole blood products for one year, due to the risk of malaria.
I'm pretty certain hemophiliacs are not allowed to donate. The list goes on.
If a person lies about their sexual experience, what else are they lying about? The fact that he contracted both syphilis and gonorrhea despite his precautions only proves that he could have contracted other diseases and also proves that condoms aren't 100% effective in disease (or pregnancy) prevention. His argument about his risk being "non-existent" is fallacious. He should have said "low".
I sort of disagree with this part of the article:
I would argue that gay men are more at risk to have HIV, but not necessarily more likely to have it (or other STIs).
Blood Services has a higher obligation to patients who receive blood than to those who wish to donate.
Article Link
OTTAWA -- A gay man testified Tuesday that he lied when asked if he’d had sex with other men when giving blood because he knew he’d be “blacklisted” and wanted his donations to help others.
Kyle Freeman, 36, said he felt he wasn’t at risk because he got HIV tests regularly and didn’t have unprotected anal sex except with a long-term partner when both had been tested. The court has heard, however, that he contracted syphilis and gonorrhea.
Canadian Blood Services is suing Freeman for lying when he gave blood.
The Thornhill, Ont., man is countersuing, arguing the agency’s lifetime ban on donations from men who’ve had sex with another man — even once — since 1977 is scientifically unjustified and violates his constitutional rights.
“My father was a blood donor — we were always taught that’s the ultimate way to help people,” Freeman told the court. “It’s the ultimate gift you can give someone.”
Freeman’s lawyer, Patricia LeFebour, started taking him through each of his 18 blood donations, starting in high school. He repeatedly said no when asked by nurses if he’d had sex with other men.
“I felt my risk was non-existent,” he said. “I don’t believe I participated in high-risk activities because I used a condom and got tested.”
“I wanted the blood to be used. I knew that if I would have answered yes I would have been excluded from having my blood used. Once they found out I was in a same-sex relationship I would not be able to donate blood anymore.
“I would be blacklisted.”
More on link
Some points (all my opinion):
Giving blood is not a right, it's a privilege, therefore, his rights are not being violated.
People who have lived in the UK for a certain amount of time are also banned for life, due to the risk of BSE.
If you visit a malarious area, you are not allowed to give whole blood products for one year, due to the risk of malaria.
I'm pretty certain hemophiliacs are not allowed to donate. The list goes on.
If a person lies about their sexual experience, what else are they lying about? The fact that he contracted both syphilis and gonorrhea despite his precautions only proves that he could have contracted other diseases and also proves that condoms aren't 100% effective in disease (or pregnancy) prevention. His argument about his risk being "non-existent" is fallacious. He should have said "low".
I sort of disagree with this part of the article:
I would argue that gay men are more at risk to have HIV, but not necessarily more likely to have it (or other STIs).
Blood Services has a higher obligation to patients who receive blood than to those who wish to donate.
