Dilemma of balancing equality with risks
Relaxing the ban on gay men donating blood will increase the risk of infections
Minister for Health Leo Varadkar recently received a comprehensive report from the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) that outlined various options for future policy on blood donations from men who have sex with men (called MSM).
The options include maintaining the status quo; lifting the ban entirely; or introducing a shorter deferral period.
Varadkar favours changing the ban to a one-year deferral, which means MSM would have to wait for a year after ...
