Ateius
Thinker
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2008
- Messages
- 224
This is apparently a policy enacted back in the tail end of January. I only became aware of it today due to my campus newspaper covering a protest by gay-rights activists over the issue.
The essence of the Health Canada ruling is that gay males are considered a high-risk group for HIV and AIDS, and as such are being restricted from donating organs on the basis that said organs may spread the infection to the new host.
Unfortunately I can't post any links, but Googling for '"Health Canada" + organ + homosexual' brings up a number of news articles. A quick look through the Health Canada website did not offer a press release regarding the policy, but given what the articles say, they may not even have issued one.
The articles do quote Health Canada as saying that the regulation was written "with input from health professionals and scientists" from all over the country.
My question to all you smart, well-read JREF types (
) is the reason this is in the Science and Medicine forum and not Government, and consists of two parts:
[1] Have there been published studies showing that it is possible or likely to transmit the HIV or AIDS virus through organ donation?
[2] If the answer to [1] is "yes," do any of the most recent studies indicate that homosexual males have a higher threat of HIV or AIDS infection than any other group?
If the answer to either of these questions is "no" I will be sending my MP and Health Canada a very strongly-worded letter with links to the appropriate studies attached.
The essence of the Health Canada ruling is that gay males are considered a high-risk group for HIV and AIDS, and as such are being restricted from donating organs on the basis that said organs may spread the infection to the new host.
Unfortunately I can't post any links, but Googling for '"Health Canada" + organ + homosexual' brings up a number of news articles. A quick look through the Health Canada website did not offer a press release regarding the policy, but given what the articles say, they may not even have issued one.
The articles do quote Health Canada as saying that the regulation was written "with input from health professionals and scientists" from all over the country.
My question to all you smart, well-read JREF types (
) is the reason this is in the Science and Medicine forum and not Government, and consists of two parts:[1] Have there been published studies showing that it is possible or likely to transmit the HIV or AIDS virus through organ donation?
[2] If the answer to [1] is "yes," do any of the most recent studies indicate that homosexual males have a higher threat of HIV or AIDS infection than any other group?
If the answer to either of these questions is "no" I will be sending my MP and Health Canada a very strongly-worded letter with links to the appropriate studies attached.
