Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
FDA Proposes To Ease Restrictions On Gay Blood Donors
The Associated Press: FDA Releases Plan To Ease Restrictions On Gay Blood Donation
The Food and Drug Administration is outlining its plan to end the nation’s lifetime ban on blood donations from gay and bisexual men, a 32-year-old policy that many medical groups and gay activists say is no longer justified. The FDA on Tuesday released proposed guidelines for screening blood donors at increased risk of carrying HIV. Under the proposal, the current blanket ban on donations from gay men would be replaced with a policy barring donations from men who have had sex with another man in the last year. The Obama administration previously announced the policy shift in December. (Perrone, 5/12)
ABC News: FDA Takes Steps To End Lifetime Ban On Gay Male Blood Donors
If the recommended policy is implemented, gay and bisexual men would be allowed to donate blood if they have abstained from sex with men for a year. The year-long deferral for gay and bisexual men has been enacted by other countries, including Japan, the United Kingdom, Brazil and Australia. Thanks in part to more sensitive tests for HIV and after seeing evidence from the countries mentioned above, the FDA determined a one-year deferral would likely be long enough to safeguard the donor supply. Currently the chances of contracting HIV in a blood transfusion is 1 in 1.47 million, according to the FDA. (Mohney, 5/12)
NBC News: As Promised, FDA To Lift Ban On Gay Blood Donation
The Food and Drug Administration has formally proposed letting gay and bisexual men donate blood, so long as they've abstained from sex for a year. The recommendation changes the current guidance, which is that any man who have ever had sex with another man in his entire life should never be able to donate blood. It's a policy that has enraged gay rights groups and that is virtually impossible to enforce. (Fox, 5/12)
