End the Blood ban demonstration

dublin | gender and sexuality | news report

Thursday March 01, 2007 16:44

by Jim

The Union of Students in Ireland organised today a protest about the blood ban operated by the Department of Health on Gay men.

It is now widely accepted that the best way to ensure a safe blood supply is to refuse blood from anyone engaged in high risk behaviour - rather than the current situation where hetrosexuals engaged in high risk promiscuous sexual activity will have their blood accepted while gay men involved low risk monogamous relationships will have their blood refused.

Invisible Donors

This ongoing disrcrimination by the Department of Health helps to perpetuate ignorance about HIV risk.

Members of USI, LGBT societies in several colleges, Labour Youth and Labour LGBT joined the protest.

A vigil is ongoing outside the Department of Health in Hawkins Street.

Labour LGBT Banner

Senator David Norris

Union of Students in Ireland

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Comments (2 of 2)

I'm stunned - I've just gone to the Health Board and here are the guidelines "should" not "must"

by flabbergasted

Thu Mar 01, 2007 18:58

Rules
Who is eligible to donate blood?

In theory, anyone can donate blood but there are certain groups who should not. All donated blood is tested before it is given to patients.

You should never donate blood if you are in one of the following groups:

* You are a male who has had sex with another male
* You have ever used a needle to take drugs of any kind
* You or your partner is HIV positive
* You have had jaundice after the age of 13 years or you contracted jaundice under the age of 13 years that was caused by Hepatitis B or C
* You have spent more than one year in the United Kingdom between 1 January 1980 and 31 December 1996 (this is to protect against any risk of vCJD transmission via blood). The United Kingdom includes England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
* You have received a blood transfusion in the Republic of Ireland since 1 January 1980.

You should not donate blood for 12 months if:

* You have visited a Malarial Area
* You have had any part of your body pierced
* You have had a tattoo
* You received acupuncture by a non-medically registered practitioner
* You gave birth to a baby
* You received a blood transfusion.

__________________________________________________________________________
What if you were a vegetarian who spent 13 months in the UK between 1/1/80 and 31/12/96?
What if you have a non-sexual relationship with your partner who has HIV?
What if you're a diabetic and only used sterilised needles?

The presentation of these "rules" followed by "should" rather than "must" is dubious to say the least.
Keep this protest going!

Mismanagement of BTSB

by bloody hell

Sat Mar 03, 2007 10:43

The scandals started way back when it turned out that women getting post-birth
blood products were infected with Hep C.

The problem was the anti-d, an anti-clotting agent.

The issue with the blood regulations is this- they were sued, dragged through the
courts, openly accused of mismanagement and instead of addressing the
board, the procedures etc :- a variety of state mechanisms were put into
place to avoid litigation by patients.

This is how the State deals with things.
Semi-state appointments are often crony rewards, so instead of dealing with issues
arising from contaminated products and the problem with gov. appointment they
introduce non-retroactive compensation laws. Keep the cronies. Leave women
fighting for years (many have died since) and copperfasten gains by ensuring
against litigation for 'contaminants'.

This could poossibly be challenged under EU rights legislation.

Solidarity.

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End the Blood ban demonstration

Comments (2 of 2)