blood donation

Poots’ blood ban scientifically and medically sound. (Even if accepting blood from Britain is not.)

Mick Fealty on October 17, 2013, 10:16 am

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I don’t have strong views one way or the other on the recent judgement against the local health Minister. On one level, what’s wrong with levelling up with the rest of the UK? However, as Kilsally has pointed out in the past, the UK position is the exception rather than the rule. In fact the Irish Blood Transfusion Service goes out of its way to explain why it is not a discriminatory practice based on identity but based on the risk …

High Court decides to #GivePootstheBoot

John Ó Néill on October 11, 2013, 4:45 pm

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The High Court in Belfast has again ruled against the lifetime blood ban imposed on gay and bisexual men by the Department of Health, not least on the grounds that it was irrational. The High Court found that: The minister has decided that MSM (males who have sex with other males) behaviour creates such a high risk of infection to the donor that such donors must be permanently deferred with the result that such blood cannot enter the Northern Ireland …