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would it be ethical?
BillieTheBot
Posts: 8,721 Bot
To give blood if youd done something in the distant past that meant that you didnt fit the criteria, but youd since been tested for HIV and hepatitis B and the tests were negative?
Beep boop. I'm a bot.
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I thought you either would have the antigens or antibodies in your blood or you wouldnt?
Would it also be unethical for me to carry a donor card?
Is it unethical for anyone to give blood if theyve never had a test? not that tests are conclusive it seems.
Now that heterosexuals are the most common group for contracting HIV, do you think that theyll change the requirements soon? Mind you, then theyd really be fucked.
It may be unethical yes, but surely regardless of that you'd rather not donate blood than feel you might be putting others at risk. Better to be safe thatn sorry.
Bumblebee, out of interest, do you know what they actually screen for?
Edit: Apparently they also test for syphilis.
If you know for definate that you have not done anything risky then by all means... have a test for everything before if you want to be 100% sure.
NUS Scotland currently have a campaign at the moment to cease with the discrimination of gay men who donate blood. Currently if you have had gay sex [even non-penetrative], then you are likely to be stopped from donating - of course this does not apply to heterosexual donors who are more likely to pass on STIs.
You may find this interesting
I expect the blood transfusion thing invalidates a lot of people, never mind risks of HIV or Hep B...
Depends what exactly it was that didn't fit the criteria really.
Im not even talking about me anymore, just in general, the rules dont take into account newer high risk groups, yet are blanket banning others.
Im not sure how they really get away with it.
I personally am a total needlephobe so would never donante anyway (I do own a donor card however) but my girlfriend does.
I'm also annoyed with the stance they take to the deaf, on "See, Hear" not so long ago there was a piece about a deaf woman who was turned away because she wasn't allowed a BSL interpreter to sit with her during her medical questionaire as it was a breach of confidentiality. I find this incredible as she would know what was on the questionaire beforehand as you get it with your reminder and would therefore obviously only have nominated someone she trusted, but in the statement from the NBS they baisically said "Whoops, well, no one can be there but the nurse, sorry luv."
Desperate for blood? Yes, as long as you aren't deaf or a gay man...
ETA: only 6% of the eligible population ACTUALLY donate, so it's not like the restrictions are causing a problem is it.
I know, why don't you sue the NBS for being descriminatory.
http://www.blood.co.uk/pages/flash_questions.html