Human Rights Campaign: FDA Blood-donation Ban Change Still Imperfect

WASHINGTON — The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender civil-rights organization, responded to the recent release of draft guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on a long-awaited change to the current blood-donation ban on gay and bisexual men. The draft guidance outlines the implementation of a deferral-based policy utilizing a one-year period of abstinence from same-sex sexual activity for men.

The change in policy was originally announced in December. The draft guidance clarifies that the gender of donors will be “self-identified and self-reported.” It also notes that, “in instances where a donor has asserted a change in gender identification, medical directors may exercise discretion with regard to donor eligibility.”

According to HRC Government Affairs Director David Stacy, “while the new policy is a step in the right direction toward an ideal policy that reflects the best scientific research, it still falls far short of a fully acceptable solution because it continues to stigmatize gay and bisexual men. This policy prevents men from donating life-saving blood based solely on their sexual orientation rather than actual risk to the blood supply. It simply cannot be justified in light of current scientific research and updated blood-screening technology. We are committed to working toward an eventual outcome that both minimizes risk to the blood supply and treats gay and bisexual men with the respect they deserve.”

The American Red Cross, America’s Blood Centers, and the American Assoc. of Blood Banks have characterized the blood ban as medically and scientifically unwarranted as far back as 2006. HRC has been actively engaged for many years in working with lawmakers to end the policy banning gay and bisexual men from donating blood.

Meanwhile, Dr. Robert Wah, president of the American Medical Assoc. (AMA), commended the FDA “for taking a step in the right direction to end the lifetime ban that prohibits men who have had sex with men from ever donating blood. The AMA fully supports and has been a strong advocate for eliminating these current public policies, as we believe that the latest scientific evidence should dictate blood and tissue donation deferral periods to ensure the safety of the national blood supply.

“The AMA’s policy supports using scientifically based deferral periods that are consistently and fairly applied to donors based on their risk level. We look forward to reviewing the FDA’s new proposed policy,” Wah added. “The AMA will continue to work with the FDA to ensure that our nation’s blood-donation policy is based on sound science and evaluates population risks consistently and without discrimination.”