FDA proposes ending ban on blood donations by men who had sex with men

Men who have had sex with other men (MSMs) will be allowed to donate blood under some conditions if the U.S. Food and Drug Administration finalizes “draft guidance” published Tuesday.

Men who have had sex with another man even once since 1977 are currently banned from donating blood in the United States as they are recognized to be at a higher risk of contracting HIV.

If the FDA approves the new guidance, the ban would be lifted for those who have not had sex with another man in the past 12 months.

After publishing draft guidance, the FDA has invited comments and public hearings on the issue. The FDA may then also seek expert recommendations before making a final decision.

In an FDA panel discussion in December, some experts indicated support for a change in the rule on blood donations by MSMs, but they did not make any recommendations.

The Department of Health and Human Services voted 16-2 in November in favor of changing policies to allow blood donations by MSMs if they have not had sex with another man for a year.

The draft recommendation suggests deferring donations from women who have had sex with an MSM by 12 months.

The President of the American Medical Association, Dr. Robert Wah, reacted to the move in statement, saying it was a “step in the right direction.”

"The AMA fully supports and has been a strong advocate for eliminating these current public policies as we believe that the latest scientific evidence should dictate blood and tissue donation deferral periods to ensure the safety of the national blood supply," Wah said. 

Other medical groups, such as the American Red Cross, had been critical of the lifetime ban, suggesting the implementation of a one-year deferral for MSMs instead. 

Al Jazeera and Retuers