Organ Donation and Homosexuals

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hey everyone. I had a pt come into the ER in full cardiac arrest. Didn't make it. 56 yr old really sad. He had a life partner who was extremely distraught and actually signed in to get medication to calm down. Anyway, he specifically told us about his partner being an organ donor. Even the coroner who came and ruled this a cardiac death mentioned to make sure about organ donation.

I call kidney one go through all their ?s and what happened. Then I progress to the next level and another rep calls me back go through EVERYTHING all over. Finally I mentioned something about the pt's life partner and slap instantly this pt's rejected due to "high risk behavior."

Now from my understanding the thing probably of concern is transmitting aids even with the organs tested if just infected will not show up. I really think this couple was in a monogamous relationship. They had been together for over 5 years. The guy was probably much healthier and less riskier than some other organs donated. I can see that with anal sex you can cause tearing more and transmit aids and that is probably the high risk the criteria is for but is ther percentage that great to reject organs for donation? I heard people with tatoos are rejected for blood (I don't know about organ donation). Still even with this in mind I was still quite surprised. Especially it deemed "high risk behavior." Because that is not necesarilly so. I would think risky behavior is multiple sex partners and yes that is but that's with all groups.

I mentioned this to my friend and instantly she states it's like this because aids is "astronomical" in homosexual populations. Is that really so? I know she is against homosexuality very much and absolutely know that is in her mind as well but with anal sex there is more tearing and potential but does anybody know actual numbers from an acredited sorce? I know in the 80s aids was really pushed out there because it was found in the homosexual poplulation. I suppose I can look on a main aids site or gov type thing. I'm comming accross just random pages with no substance to back it.

Is this risk really that relavant? And should it be deemed "high risk." And one article I read type cast homosexuals in general so what about lesbians? I know donations have to be screened excessively but is this too much?

--broke my huge paragraph up hope it helps to read it!!

Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.
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...

SBE: My apologies for the confusion, but my previous post was regards to both homosexual & heterosexual monogomous relationships which practice unsafe sex. I was NOT intending to be negatively bias towards homosexuals in the least bit.

:)

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

post rescinded.

Good thoughts by all here.

Specializes in PICU, Nurse Educator, Clinical Research.
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.

Don't take this as me trying to slam you, I'm really not. I've always really appreciated the respectful tone of your posts, even when I disagree with your point of view.

Yes, you're correct about the definition of monogamy, but your post got me thinking- with the increase in young people (down to middle-school kids, sadly) choosing to have anal and/or oral sex to 'keep their virginity', I have to wonder if the exclusion of male homosexuals from organ and tissue donation should be rethought- I mean, think about the example someone gave of college campus blood drives. Even when I was in college in the early 90's, the risky behaviour practiced by *many* people I knew- gay, straight, male, female- would've made most ineligible for donation. That situation is FAR worse today than it was 15 years ago. In fact, I read a study a couple of years ago that since AIDS treatments and prevention have shifted the media's attention away from the disease in recent years, unsafe sex practices have gone up dramatically in some areas. I would love to know what percentage of heterosexual blood donors have actually engaged in behaviour that should exclude them, compared to that statistic among homosexual men (or, as the researchers now define it, men who have sex with men- MSM).

I'm a huge, huge advocate of organ donation- I worked in a neuro ICU and saw SO many brain-dead patients whose families refused to honor the patient's wishes to be a donor, because they wanted them to 'go to heaven intact'. It was even harder to see it in the PICU because I can empathise more with parents not wanting their child to have organs harvested. There's a terrible lack of understanding in the public about the need for organ donors, and (at least where I worked) families weren't approached with the topic until brain death was imminent- for many families, it's just too much to take in at such an enormously stressful time. It's hard to feel empathy for someone whose life could be saved when your family member is dying.

The ideal situation would be if more people were willing to be donors- and told their families about it! Everyone in my family has known I wanted to be a donor since I first heard about it as a little kid. Maybe if there were enough organs to go around, then *anyone* who was high-risk for any reason at all could be excluded.

I do understand both sides- my brother in law has hepatitis C from a transfusion he received in the 80s. He and my sister were tested annually for HIV the entire time they were married, and both their kids were tested.

The whole thing is just so sad. :(

Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.
SBE: My apologies for the confusion, but my previous post was regards to both homosexual & heterosexual monogomous relationships which practice unsafe sex. I was NOT intending to be negatively bias towards homosexuals in the least bit.

I use the (based on those biannual required FL CEUs) term MSM (men having sex w/ men).

Homosexual is not appropriate for risk issues. Many MSMs do not consider themselves homosexual (on the "down low"). And lesbians are not barred from donations based on their homosexuality, since they have a lower risk of HIV infection that heterosexuals of either gender.

MSMs also include bisexual males.

It tends to identify the behavior without "labeling" it.

Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.
I'm not understanding you. Two HIV negative people in a monogomous relationship, regardless of sexual practices, are going to remain HIV negative beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Again, my apologies for any misunderstanding. I was referring to a monogomous couple [no matter their sexual orientation] that practices anal sex. I was trying to make the point the word monogomous, alone, is not a qualifier of safety. BTW, a previous post by another member actually made a similar statement. Anyway, I don't know how more clearly I can be? I never mentioned anything about HIV testing. Yet, I do agree with what you are saying, too.

Originally Posted by Corvette Guy

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.

:monkeydance:

Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.
post rescinded.

Good thoughts by all here.

Which post is that?

Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.
Don't take this as me trying to slam you, I'm really not. I've always really appreciated the respectful tone of your posts, even when I disagree with your point of view.

Yes, you're correct about the definition of monogamy, but your post got me thinking- with the increase in young people (down to middle-school kids, sadly) choosing to have anal and/or oral sex to 'keep their virginity', I have to wonder if the exclusion of male homosexuals from organ and tissue donation should be rethought- I mean, think about the example someone gave of college campus blood drives. Even when I was in college in the early 90's, the risky behaviour practiced by *many* people I knew- gay, straight, male, female- would've made most ineligible for donation. That situation is FAR worse today than it was 15 years ago. In fact, I read a study a couple of years ago that since AIDS treatments and prevention have shifted the media's attention away from the disease in recent years, unsafe sex practices have gone up dramatically in some areas. I would love to know what percentage of heterosexual blood donors have actually engaged in behaviour that should exclude them, compared to that statistic among homosexual men (or, as the researchers now define it, men who have sex with men- MSM).

I'm a huge, huge advocate of organ donation- I worked in a neuro ICU and saw SO many brain-dead patients whose families refused to honor the patient's wishes to be a donor, because they wanted them to 'go to heaven intact'. It was even harder to see it in the PICU because I can empathise more with parents not wanting their child to have organs harvested. There's a terrible lack of understanding in the public about the need for organ donors, and (at least where I worked) families weren't approached with the topic until brain death was imminent- for many families, it's just too much to take in at such an enormously stressful time. It's hard to feel empathy for someone whose life could be saved when your family member is dying.

The ideal situation would be if more people were willing to be donors- and told their families about it! Everyone in my family has known I wanted to be a donor since I first heard about it as a little kid. Maybe if there were enough organs to go around, then *anyone* who was high-risk for any reason at all could be excluded.

I do understand both sides- my brother in law has hepatitis C from a transfusion he received in the 80s. He and my sister were tested annually for HIV the entire time they were married, and both their kids were tested.

The whole thing is just so sad. :(

Huh? I'm very confused about the slam reference. :uhoh21:

At any rate, I did not see from your post where you slammed me, or disagreed with me... at least I agree with your point of view above & enjoyed your post. Plus, I appreciated your kind words, too. I try my best to be respectful of everyone, but some how find myself being misunderstood, sometimes, LOL.

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.

To clarify my post: Both partners are faithful to each other. Both are tested at regular intervals, both are neg for HIV and hep, both do not sleep with anyone else but their partner. That's what I meant by monogamous.

I'm just wondering if this could be proven, if one were to die unexpectedly, why could that person not be considered for donation?

I don't think's it's prejudice that motivates them, it's fear and some practicality.

I understand that as a gay man, I fall in a high risk category because you can't argue with facts. Gay men still make up the largest group of HIV carriers.

However, the fact remains that there are potentially millions of HIV negative men, engaging in safe sex, or no sex, or monogamous sex with another HIV negative partner that can't donate and to me that's bitterly disappointing.

Rapid HIV tests are becoming available. I hope that these can be used to remove the stigma of gay people being potentially tainted. Because despite the tens of thousands of gay men with HIV, there are millions more of us who aren't ashamed to say we're gay, who are honorable enough to want to donate, but can't.

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.

Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.
To clarify my post: Both partners are faithful to each other. Both are tested at regular intervals, both are neg for HIV and hep, both do not sleep with anyone else but their partner. That's what I meant by monogamous.

I'm just wondering if this could be proven, if one were to die unexpectedly, why could that person not be considered for donation?

Safe then to include the above partners do not practice anal sex... just to clarify?

Specializes in ICU.

Interestingly here, sexuality is not even mentioned!!

http://www.organdonor.com.au/cfm/SmartGate/Applications/LifeGift/default.cfm

Only that you cannot be a donor if you have HIV or active Cancer. That is it!!

Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.
Interestingly here, sexuality is not even mentioned!!

http://www.organdonor.com.au/cfm/SmartGate/Applications/LifeGift/default.cfm

Only that you cannot be a donor if you have HIV or active Cancer. That is it!!

Very interesting!

Who can become an organ donor when they die?Anyone from the age of 12 months up to the age of 90 can potentially become an organ and tissue donor.

However, less than 1% of deaths occur in such a way that organ donation is possible.

The person must die in hospital of a major brain injury (usually in an intensive care unit) and they are always attached to a ventilator (a machine which supports breathing) when they die.

The ventilator machine maintains oxygen supply to all of the vital organs. This ensures the organs are still suitable for transplantation.

Tissue donation (ie donation of corneas, bone, skin and heart valves) is possible in a wider range of circumstances.

You cannot be an organ donor if you are HIV positive or have cancer at the time of your death. You may become an organ donor if you have been cancer free for five or more years.

Contrary to common belief, you can still be an organ and tissue donor if you smoke, wear glasses, drink alcohol or regularly take medication.

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