Seattle Residents Criticize Blood Donor Policies That Exclude Gay ...

Prospective blood donors are accusing blood banks in the Seattle area of discriminatory regulations that bar most gay and bisexual men from giving blood, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported Tuesday.

After the Puget Sound Blood Center announced last week that western Washington’s blood reserves were at emergency levels, some residents voiced frustration at policies that turn away about 6% of those who volunteer to donate blood. About 24,000 people have been placed on the region’s permanent deferral list based on answers to screening questions, according to the center, and men who have had sexual contact with another man since 1977 are automatically rejected.  Seattle Residents Criticize Blood Donor Policies That Exclude Gay ...
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