RENEWED CALL TO LIFT GAY BLOOD BAN AS TYPE O STOCKS DWINDLE
SHORTAGE HIGHLIGHTS PROBLEM WITH PLAN TO ALLOW PLASMA-ONLY DONATION
Spokesperson, Thomas Buxereau said,
"The shortage of Type O blood highlights the problem with Lifeblood's proposal to allow gay men, and bisexual men and trans women who have sex with men, to donate plasma but not whole blood."
"It won't address critical shortages of important blood types like Type O."
"We urge Lifeblood to drop the current gay blood ban, not only for plasma, but for whole blood, and adopt individual risk assessment for all whole blood donors as has occurred in the UK, US, Canada and a number of other countries."
"This will open up a new source of safe Type O blood for those in need."
Lifeblood has announced a research project into allowing gay, bisexual and transgender people to give whole blood, but has said it will take at least two years and hasn't committed to implementing the results.
"Given the growing international evidence showing the value of dropping the gay blood ban and implementing individual risk assessment, we don't understand why Lifeblood is taking so long", Mr Buxereau said.
"Australians need Type O blood now, not in two or three year's time."
Type O positive blood is the most common blood type. Type O negative is rarer but is used as a universal transfusion blood type, particularly in emergency situations.
For the Red Cross Lifeblood announcement: https://www.lifeblood.com.au/news-and-stories/media-centre/media%20releases/urgent-call-type-o-blood-donors
For this statement on the web, click here
For more information contact Thomas Buxereau on 0415 896 884.
