FDA re-considering blood donation policy

By: News Staff

news@abc6.com

The FDA is officially re-considering the blood donation policy which restricts gay and bi-sexual men from giving blood.

This week, the agency put out a formal request for public comment on changing its policy, which forbids donations from men who have had sexual relations with other men within the past year.

The original intention was to limit the risk of getting the AIDS virus in the bloodstream.

It was brought back to the forefront after the Orlando nightclub shooting back in June.

LGBT groups complained that many friends and loved ones could not give their blood because of the restrictions.

©WLNE-TV / ABC6 2016