Organ Donation and Homosexuals

Nurses General Nursing

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ortess1971

528 Posts

Specializes in OR.

I was able to donate blood recently, and I have 4 tattoos-they knew about them, and told me that it's only a problem if you've gotten one in the past year. One of the fastest growing groups for HIV infection are heterosexual women. I find it sad that many qualified people are turned away from giving blood-they test everyone's blood before they use it so where's the problem?

EricJRN, MSN, RN

1 Article; 6,683 Posts

they test everyone's blood before they use it so where's the problem?

The problem lies in the fact that no test is ever 100% foolproof, so the national standard for donor blood collection involves a combination of blood testing and donor interview to screen for high-risk practices. I'm sure that the same premise underlies some of the guidelines for organ donation.

maryshome8

128 Posts

I 100% agree with you...this is what is stupid about these policies and the Red Cross.

Nobody asks if you have ever been a prostitute.

Nobody asks if a person is sexually promiscuous.

Yet, AIDS is still treated as a gay disease.

maryshome8

128 Posts

My understanding is that MSMs are not permitted to donate blood or marrow. Thus (given that you can test blood/marrow more comprehensively than organs - time is not as great an issue), I can see where the ban on donating organs is consistant.

Due to my medical history and transfusion history, I am not permitted to donate organs or blood, so you really can't chalk it up prejudice.

It seems like something to quibble over...each person's presumed risky behavior. But take into account the lawsuits over passing on contaminated tissue, and you can see the concern.

As far as nurses coming in contact with everything, we also have access to PPE. We also presumably(?) take greater care with our hygiene, than the public.

There is no one completely free of risks. But as someone that got transfused with blood, known later to be contaminated, I will never be permitted to donate anything....though I have always tested negative. And I can understand the concern.

Also think of this. Patients that have been treated for cancer (chemo/rad) are frequently not permitted to donate blood/most transplant organs. This despite that research has not seen any link with recipients having a higher risk of cancer and that the organs were not permanently affected by chemo.

I actually understand why they won't allow cancer patients to donate...because ultimately, no one knows what causes cancer.

maryshome8

128 Posts

Monogamous relationship? Monogamy is the custom or condition of having only one mate during a period of time. So, two people in a monogamous relationship that practice [lack of a better word] anal sex certainly provide a shadow of doubt.

I disagree with you....both men and women engage in anal sex and because of the TYPE of sexual activity someone engages in, is not correlated, in any way, of how many sexual partners they have.

There are people that have been married for 50 years and their spouse has cheated on them the entire time...but it's ASSUMED that they are in a monogamous relationship.

That is what is wrong with the organ donation program..too many assumptions.

maryshome8

128 Posts

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maryshome8

128 Posts

And I find this to be very sad. There are so many people who could benefit by organ donation. If the person was deemed not to be infected with HIV or Hep, I feel that they should be eligible for donation. But in a case like this in which this man died suddenly, I guess there isn't time to verify that these tests have been done.

But they assume that everyone else doesn't engage in high-risk behavior, or that women are incapable of it. Anyone and everyone could possibly be infected with HIV (even children who may receive it at birth)..I just think it's sad that "they" still treat HIV as a gay disease, because it isn't. More heterosexuals are getting HIV than homosexuals.

Corvette Guy

1,505 Posts

Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.
I disagree with you....both men and women engage in anal sex and because of the TYPE of sexual activity someone engages in, is not correlated, in any way, of how many sexual partners they have.

There are people that have been married for 50 years and their spouse has cheated on them the entire time...but it's ASSUMED that they are in a monogamous relationship.

That is what is wrong with the organ donation program..too many assumptions.

Okay... but, I do agree with you.

NurseguyFL

309 Posts

CG: We know not their (homosexuals') sexual practices, definately. Who can say for sure that hetero's don't engage in MUCH riskier behaviors??? Let's don't go there please.

And the point about health care workers then being extremely high risk, and therefore potentially ineligible is well-taken by me.

Very well said! The gay/straight thing really doesn't mean a whole lot these days because there are a lot of people out there, representing all points on the Kinsey scale who're doing all sorts of things that are high-risk---drugs, unprotected sex...you name it. Yet the majority of these people are presumed 'ok' as long as they are not male homosexuals??? What an unfortunate assumption! Even the CDC is now recommending that everyone be tested for HIV as a part of their routine medical assessment.

Corvette Guy

1,505 Posts

Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmilingBluEyes

CG: We know not their (homosexuals') sexual practices, definately. Who can say for sure that hetero's don't engage in MUCH riskier behaviors??? Let's don't go there please.

And the point about health care workers then being extremely high risk, and therefore potentially ineligible is well-taken by me.

Very well said! The gay/straight thing really doesn't mean a whole lot these days because there are a lot of people out there, representing all points on the Kinsey scale who're doing all sorts of things that are high-risk---drugs, unprotected sex...you name it. Yet the majority of these people are presumed 'ok' as long as they are not male homosexuals??? What an unfortunate assumption! Even the CDC is now recommending that everyone be tested for HIV as a part of their routine medical assessment.

NurseguyFL - I NEVER POSTED IT TO BE A MALE HOMOSEXUAL ISSUE! I assure you I was misquoted/misunderstood.

Please, see my previous post #37

LydiaNN

2,756 Posts

Specializes in Public Health, DEI.

There was an episode on ER once, I believe it related to a liver transplant. An AIDS patient died and had an HIV+ friend who needed a liver. I believe it was Carter who okayed the transplant. It was a very thought provoking show.

Melina

289 Posts

Specializes in home health, neuro, palliative care.
Monogamous relationship? Monogamy is the custom or condition of having only one mate during a period of time. So, two people in a monogamous relationship that practice [lack of a better word] anal sex certainly provide a shadow of doubt.

What???:confused:

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