Point | FDA policy proves unnecessary

A lot has changed at Penn since 1977.

This May the LGBT Center will celebrate it's 25th anniversary at Penn. The University has made tremendous strides in recognizing and understanding its diverse array of students.

But thanks to an outdated FDA policy, any man who has ever had sex with another man (MSM) is banned for life from donating blood on campus - or anywhere else.

With the Blood Donor Discrimination Proposal, the Undergraduate Assembly has the opportunity to live up to its responsibility as the voice of the student body and speak out against discrimination.

Understandably, some feel there isn't enough scientific evidence to support a relaxation of the ban.

"I don't feel like we were adequately informed to make a decision based on scientific and medical facts," said College sophomore and UA member Zac Byer, who voted against the proposal.

When it comes to politics or siphoning blood (if there's a difference), I guess high-profile endorsements aren't what they used to be.

In a 2006 report by the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), America's Blood Centers (ABC) and the American Red Cross (ARC), the lifetime ban was deemed "medically and scientifically unwarranted," based on their research.

They concluded the deferral period for MSM should be lowered to 12 months or something consistent with those at risk by heterosexual means.

As with any topic, there's research arguing the contrary. But I dare you to find any intuition on the planet that knows blood better than the AABB, ABC and ARC, who combined handle over 80 percent of the nation's blood product.

In my book, their opinion is kind of a big deal.

Others argue the proposal focuses too much on the rights of donors, without adequately addressing the rights of the recipients. A 2004 paper from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center states "that the rights of blood recipients should supersede any asserted rights of blood donors."

Somehow I highly doubt proponents of the proposal wish to "supersede" the rights of anyone. Let's not forget, no one is more sensitive to the devastation caused by HIV/AIDS than the gay community.

"This isn't a case of us prioritizing our own good feelings above the welfare of other people," said College freshman and supporter Alec Webley. "We're extremely sensitive to the well-being of blood recipients."

It seems most of the contention centers around the usage of a single word: discrimination.

"I think denying the right to education, the right to vote . that's discrimination," said Byer. "We have come a long way since the mid 1960s, and this [debate] doesn't do the term justice."

Apparently we haven't come far enough. We need to get rid of this limiting belief that the word "discrimination" makes an argument emotional or any less objective.

When someone's denied the right to engage in any activity, for reasons deemed no longer factually valid, that's discrimination - plain and simple.

Let's not allow our desire for political correctness to stop us from calling a situation for what it is.

There are a host of medical reasons why certain people shouldn't be allowed to give blood. MSM were permanently banned from donating blood back in 1977 for good reason.

Back then researchers knew next to nothing about HIV/AIDS. Having the opportunity to donate blood is not an inalienable right.

But it is completely within our rights as American citizens, gay or straight, to have a medical policy that is based on the science of today, not the stereotypes of yesteryear.

"The fact that the major blood-collection organizations, all of them, have said this policy is an overly restrictive ban and is scientifically unwarranted . is where discrimination comes in," said Kevin Rurak, College senior and co-sponsor of the proposal.

The proposal in question is not at all unreasonable or outside of the UA's jurisdiction.

No one is seeking to ban the Red Cross from campus, as was done elsewhere around the country.

All it requests is for the University to conduct further research into the matter and speak out against a rule long overdue for revision.

A lot of has changed at Penn since 1977. Let's get with the times.

Simeon McMillan is a Wharton senior from Long Island, N.Y. His e-mail is mcmillan@dailypennsylvanian.com. Common $ense appears Thursdays.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.