FDA reconsiders blood donation policy for gay men

The Food and Drug Administration is reconsidering its blood donation policy, which currently restricts donations from men who have had sex with other men within the past year. The FDA is now asking

News 12 Staff

Jul 29, 2016, 2:03 AM

Updated 2,836 days ago

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FDA reconsiders blood donation policy for gay men
The Food and Drug Administration is reconsidering its blood donation policy, which currently restricts donations from men who have had sex with other men within the past year.
The FDA is now asking people to submit ideas for changes on its blood donation policy.
While activists within the LGBT community acknowledge the FDA's latest move, they say putting any restrictions on the community is unacceptable.
"The only solution to the ban is to abolish the ban altogether," says David Kilmnick, CEO of the LGBT Network.
According to the FDA, people are also restricted from donating blood if they have injected non-prescription drugs or gotten a tattoo or body piercing from outside a state-regulated establishment within the last 12 months.
The agency overturned a complete ban of blood donations by gay and bisexual men in 2015.
 


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