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My family has tried to become blood donors in the USA to give back to the community but we are banned as we have lived in Europe in a Country that had 3 cases of mad cow disease (all after we didn't resided there and already were residents of the USA) while the population at the time was 16 million people.
We never resided in a rural area nor visited a farm.
This week the news came that homo sexual people now can give blood as long as they didn't have sex for 1 year (I guess we have to believe the verbal statement as I don't think anyone will bring in the person they last had sex with), so no actively homo sexual can give blood.
I'm not sure how we can be considered a high risk and be banned from giving blood (even our adult kids who came here at the age of 5 and the other one a little bit older) while someone who had homo sexual encounters and we have to believe them on their word.
To me this doesn't make sense but I respect the laws of the Country but with a blood type of A negative I thought my blood could make a difference and it should be easily be tested for mad cow disease and not having lived over there for over 16 years...I guess I would have been dead by now if I had mad cow disease.
Even though the FDA announced this week that homosexuals may give blood, overturning a 30-year-old blanket ban, the government will still not let sexually active homosexuals donate. Any man who identifies as homosexual may only give blood if he stipulates he has not had sexual contact with another man in the previous 12 months.
Three people have died in the Netherlands from variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease after eating meat from a BSE positive cow. The last reported death was in January 2009. Deaths were also reported in 2005 and 2006.
We never resided in a rural area nor visited a farm.
Apparently you are completely unaware about how mad cow disease is transmitted. You can get it from your hamburgers or steaks you eat. Being in a rural area or visiting a farm is not the point at all.
Apparently you are completely unaware about how mad cow disease is transmitted. You can get it from your hamburgers or steaks you eat. Being in a rural area or visiting a farm is not the point at all.
I'm aware of that but if only 3 cases are known and were detected close a decade after we had moved away than it I very unlikely.
Compared to someone's word of not having had sex for one year....?
Not that it is that important but we tried to contribute to a good cause and I would not have brought it up if the news that came out this week wasn't so "special" as now people are to believed on their word for something that to me sounds like a higher risk.
I'm aware of that but if only 3 cases are known and were detected close a decade after we had moved away than it I very unlikely.
Compared to someone's word of not having had sex for one year....?
Not that it is that important but we tried to contribute to a good cause and I would not have brought it up if the news that came out this week wasn't so "special" as now people are to believed on their word for something that to me sounds like a higher risk.
Everyone is believed on their word when donating blood. You were taken at your word that you lived in Europe, but someone else might not have checked off that box and no one would have known any different. Homosexual men could have easily not stated that they were homosexual and no one would have known any different.
They don't do serious background checks on people donating blood, they give you a form to fill out and take you at your word.
Everyone is believed on their word when donating blood. You were taken at your word that you lived in Europe, but someone else might not have checked off that box and no one would have known any different. Homosexual men could have easily not stated that they were homosexual and no one would have known any different.
They don't do serious background checks on people donating blood, they give you a form to fill out and take you at your word.
Both should be banned, period. Im sorry your feelings were hurt, however, it is too risky that if your blood is infected, many people could lose their life. a life is more important than your hurt feelings. If you want to do something for mankind, seek another way to be a blessing, not just feel bad about being rejected as a blood donor.
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