Donating blood? - Comments

HIV can go undetected for up to a year. If a person contracted it recently, it won't show up for months, at minimum. That's why people who fear they've contracted it have to go back to the doctor regularly to get tested again and again.

There's a risk of getting HIV or other diseases from anyone who donates blood, but gay men are at higher risk because of the way they have sex. A lot of straight couples have anal sex too, but they also have other options. Gay men only have anal (not counting oral), so obviously the likelihood of their contracting HIV is higher.

I think we might just have to agree to disagree on this one.

v Redundance The problem is that they shouldn't have to lie. African Americans also have a much higher rate of HIV infection than any other racial group, should they also not be allowed to donate blood. Not all rules are in place for appropriate reasons. Some rules are outdated and need to be changed.

That's so messed up. I don't like those rules.

Audrey T. I don't understand why you're fighting a rule that is set in place to keep people from getting an awful disease. Look at the numbers. Gay people-- specifically men-- have a high rate of HIV/AIDS than straight people. It isn't meant to insult anyone.

And you're right, there is no 'gay test' and I'm sure people do lie about it. So what's the problem?? I'm failing to see why this is a big deal.

Redundance I do see your point and I am sorry that you cannot donate blood but for reasons like this we should allow anyone who can donate blood to do so. But once again I really do understand your point of view and respect your opionion.

v The rules come from old prejudices. And they're not protecting anyone. Even if someone who gave blood had HIV, ALL donated blooded is tested, so no one is put into undue harm. And even if they keep the rules, if I'm a homosexual who wants to donate blood, all I'd have to do is say that I'm not. There's no "gay" test they can make me take to be sure if I'm gay or not. It's not a blood-alcohol test, there's no litmus paper that can gauge that. So really, who is this rule protecting and what is it preventing?

Oh, I'm well aware that straight people can get HIV/AIDS. The probability of it is less, though. That's were the rule comes from.

Redundance I plan on being a doctor someday so yes I do understand that but you can also get HIV from a striaght person. It just isn't gays who are at risk, that is what I'm trying to say.

What I'm trying to say is that the rules are the rules. I can't donate blood either because of a genetic skin condition that doesn't even have anything to do with my blood. Yeah, it sucks and yes, I was upset when I found out but that's the rules.

v Why would a nurse get HIV from taking blood? Nurses deal with infected blood all the time in hospitals and clinics. There's appropriate procedure to make sure they're not exposed to it then, and there's proper procedure to make sure nurses aren't exposed to any possibly infected blood while doing blood donations. And even if they weren't, if nurses were at high risk to be infected with HIV through the blood of volunteers, wouldn't they also be at risk by possible non-homosexual carriers?

While it isn't the ideal situation, how would you like to be a nurse who got infected with HIV from taking the blood? Some battles should just be left alone.