Lifting Blood Ban Could Add 219,000 Pints Yearly
Report: Lifting Blood Ban Could Add 219,000 Pints Yearly
By Julie BolcerAccording to the report, the added 219,000 pints of blood would increase the nation’s blood supply by 1.4%, while the additional 900 organ donations would represent and increase of 2.9%.
A statement that accompanied the report said, “Both the American Red Cross and the American Association of Blood Banks have concluded that the current FDA ban on MSM blood donation is medically and scientifically unwarranted. Study co-author and Williams Distinguished Scholar Gary Gates states that, ‘Lifting restrictions on blood and organ donation by MSM would help to alleviate frequent blood shortages in the U.S. and shorten the organ donation waiting list that currently exceeds 100,000
individuals.’”
The FDA is scheduled to hold hearing on the blood ban on next Thursday and Friday.
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