FDA Urged To Relax Tissue Donation Rules for Gay and Bisexual Men: Victim Advocates Speak Out

By Trend News Line 2024-05-25 06:30:00.

Sheryl J. Moore has been an advocate for changing the guidelines surrounding tissue donation by gay and bisexual men since her son’s tragic death in 2013. Her son, Alexander “AJ” Betts Jr., was a young organ donor whose eyes were rejected simply because of his sexual orientation. This experience led Moore to start a campaign called “Legalize Gay Eyes” with Dr. Michael Puente Jr. to draw attention to the discriminatory policies that prevent certain individuals from donating tissue.

Dr. Puente, a pediatric ophthalmologist, has been vocal about the nonsensical nature of the current donor guidelines, particularly when it comes to cornea donations. Despite advancements in testing for HIV and other diseases, the FDA’s restrictions on tissue donation by gay and bisexual men remain in place. Advocates, lawmakers, and medical professionals like Dr. Puente have been calling for a reduction in the deferral period from five years to 90 days, aligning the guidelines for tissue donation with those for organ donation.

The FDA’s outdated policies, implemented 30 years ago to prevent HIV transmission, have been widely criticized for perpetuating stigma against gay men. Despite advances in medical technology and scientific knowledge, the FDA has been slow to act on changing these discriminatory guidelines. In response to mounting pressure from advocates and lawmakers, the FDA has acknowledged the need to review and update its donor screening and testing protocols.

While the FDA lifted the so-called “blood ban” on gay and bisexual men donating blood in 2015, the restrictions on tissue donation have remained in place. Recent studies have shown that advancements in testing have significantly reduced the risk of transmitting HIV and other diseases through tissue donation. However, the FDA’s policies continue to focus on specific groups of people rather than individualized risk assessments based on behaviour.

Advocates like Sheryl J. Moore and Dr. Michael Puente Jr. are calling for a more inclusive and science-based approach to tissue donation. They argue that aligning the guidelines for tissue donation by gay and bisexual men with those for organ donation would not only save lives but also promote equality and eliminate discrimination in the donation process. As the FDA continues to review its policies, advocates are hopeful that meaningful changes will be made to ensure that all individuals have the opportunity to donate tissue and save lives..

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