and your opinion is?

[Dodgergirl]

I read this article with interest, when I was in college ( not very long ago) we had regular blood drives. One of the points they made was to tell everyone (everytime we went in) that there was a sticker attached to the info sheet in which we could put on the actual blood bag. The sticker in essence said "Use my blood" or "Do not use my blood". This allowed for everyone to donate, without the fear of being ostracized from groups because of their health status. Every bag had one or the other sticker attached...
After reading this article I wondered if this was still in practice and if the gay donor ban is really a good thing or if it is costing lives because of situations such as this...
Do you think a revision is in order?



SJSU suspends blood drives over federal gay donor ban

San Jose State University has suspended all campus blood drives because of a long-standing government policy that bars gay men from donating blood.

San Jose State President Don Kassing says the policy by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration violates the school's nondiscrimination policy.

The American Red Cross and other national organizations that regularly run blood drives have been pushing the FDA to revise the policy. The policy has been in place since AIDS first emerged in the United States.

Officials at local blood banks are not pleased with Kassing's decision. They say could lead to a drop in blood donations at numerous Bay Area colleges and put patients' lives at risk.

Information from: San Jose Mercury News, http://www.sjmercury.com

[MadScot]

I think stupidity is running rampant and common sense has been replaced by stubborn ignorance. How did this Kassing become President of a college this is like cutting off your nose to spite your face. I was under the impression that all donated blood is screened for aids and that their has not been a case of aids caused by bad blood for quite some time.

[monkey]

I donated just 2 days ago. They do a verbal screening and then give you a code assigned to your blood and a phone number to call if there are any issues. They tell you to call even if you feel like you are catching a cold in the few days after donating. All blood collected is tested for AIDS as well as several other things.

[only1alphafemale]

I donated just 2 days ago. They do a verbal screening and then give you a code assigned to your blood and a phone number to call if there are any issues. They tell you to call even if you feel like you are catching a cold in the few days after donating. All blood collected is tested for AIDS as well as several other things.
Thats what I thought monkey....that they had automatic tests done on any blood that was donated for certain things~
I myself, cant donate, I have never been able to weigh in at the required 115 lbs - but I remember from when my ex used to give blood, they asked him about any medications he was taking, and any recent illnesses he may have had......