Why cant gay people donate blood in canada

Canadian Blood Services has apologized to the 2SLGBTQ+ community for its "harmful" former policies that prevented or restricted men who have sex with men from donating blood for decades. For years. MAY 10, (OTTAWA) – Canadian Blood Services has issued an apology to 2SLGBTQIA+ communities across Canada, acknowledging the harms experienced by gay, bisexual, and queer men, trans people, and other members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community because of a former donor eligibility policy.

Canadian Blood Services apologizes to the LGBTQ+ community for its past blood donation policies that excluded gay and bisexual men. The historic ban, rooted in fears from the AIDS epidemic, faced criticism for perpetuating discrimination. In AprilCanadian Blood Services made historic changes to its eligibility criteria, removing a three-month deferral period on blood donations from gay and bisexual men, as well as from some others in the LGBTQ2S+ community.

Canada introduced a lifetime blood donation ban for gay men in The policy was later changed to prevent men who have sex with men from donating blood for five years why cant gay people donate blood in canada being sexually active. Whole blood is separated into red cells, plasma and platelets. Health Canada called the move "a significant milestone toward a more inclusive blood donation system".

Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. Canada removes ban on blood donations from gay men. Blood donation ban on men who have sex with men can end: Health Canada. Health Matters: Alberta surpasses U. That was later eased to the current three month period. However, the blanket deferral still applied regardless of individual risk — such as if the men had only one partner.

Getty Images. If you get Global News from Instagram or Facebook - that will be changing. The move officially greenlights a policy change by the blood service that officials said is expected by Sept.

Why two approaches and not just a gender-neutral approach as introduced in the United Kingdom, Canada, and United States? Australia, like many countries, introduced an indefinite deferral for men who have sex with men, the population most affected by HIV. Journalistic standards Comment Report an error. Plasma, the yellow liquid part, contains proteins used in treatments for immune disorders, severe burns and other conditions.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration TGA has approved a gender-neutral risk assessment for blood and platelet donations. Close X. Find a donor centre. Search Close Submit search Quick Search. Under this system, all donors, regardless of gender, will be asked if, in the past six months, they have had sex excluding oral sex with a new partner or more than one partner.

Canadian blood services

This opens donation pathways for many gay and bisexual men, and other men who have sex with men. Fact or Fiction: latest wellness trends. In May this year, our submission for the plasma pathway was approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. As of 30 September, prospective donors will not be asked about their sexual orientation during the screening process but instead about whether they engage in any higher-risk sexual behaviours.

Health Canada has given Canadian Blood Services the green light to lift specific restrictions on blood donations from men who have sex with men. Changes to blood and plasma donation in Experts have found that the bans had little effect, since blood is now systematically screened in advance for viruses such as HIV and Hepatitis B and C. Similar policies have been adopted in countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and the Netherlands, with no evidence of increased risk to the blood supply.

Instead, donors will be screened regardless of gender or sexuality, for high-risk sexual behaviours.