New FDA Guidelines Released... Regulation Change Plans
UK and France Already Abolished... Korea Allows Conditionally
Discriminatory blood donation restrictions against homosexual and bisexual individuals are expected to disappear in the United States. In the 1980s, the U.S. completely banned blood donations from homosexual and bisexual individuals to prevent the transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) through blood transfusions.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released new guidelines that remove separate questions about homosexual and bisexual individuals from the questionnaire that blood donation applicants submit in advance, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 27th (local time).
Blood Donation Poster
Currently, in the U.S., homosexual and bisexual individuals who wish to donate blood must answer the question, "Have you had anal sex with a new partner in the past 3 months?" If the answer applies, blood donation is prohibited.
However, in 2015, the FDA revised the regulations to allow limited blood donations from homosexual and bisexual individuals who had not had sexual intercourse for one year prior to donation, and recently, this period was shortened to 3 months.
The FDA plans to gather public opinion on the new guidelines over the next 60 days and then make a final decision to change the blood donation restrictions.
Karl Schmidt, head of the HIV+ Hepatitis Policy Institute, a patient advocacy group, called it a historic decision, stating, "It marks the end of an era of unconditional discrimination against homosexuals."
However, even if blood donation restrictions against homosexual and bisexual individuals are lifted, people who carry HIV or use drugs will still be prohibited from donating blood.
Additionally, blood donation centers must test all blood for HIV and other viruses.
The UK, France, Canada, and others have already abolished restrictions... South Korea allows conditional donations
Eliminating blood donation restrictions on sexual minorities is a global trend. It is about guaranteeing the "right to donate blood" for sexual minorities.
The UK lifted blood donation restrictions on homosexual and bisexual men last year. If they have maintained a relationship with one partner for more than 3 months, they can donate blood without restrictions. If they have two or more partners or have met a new partner within the last 3 months, they can only donate blood if they have not engaged in anal sex.
Earlier this year, France also lifted the ban on blood donations from homosexual men, allowing all people, including homosexual and bisexual men, to donate blood starting in March. France banned blood donations from homosexual and bisexual men in 1983, then in 2016 allowed donations if the donor had abstained from sexual activity for one year prior to donation. In 2019, the abstinence period was reduced to 4 months.
Canada completely abolished blood donation restrictions on homosexual men in April after 30 years. Previously, Canada restricted blood donations from homosexual men who had sexual intercourse within the past 3 months.
Other countries that have recently removed blood donation restrictions on male sexual minorities include Greece, Israel, Hungary, Denmark, and Brazil.
In South Korea, "men who have had sexual contact with men in the past year" are not allowed to donate blood.
The blood donation record card, established by the Minister of Health and Welfare's notice, includes a question about this. If the answer applies, blood donation is prohibited for one year regardless of other medical questionnaire responses.
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