Hema-Quebec ends discriminatory policy against gay men wanting to donate blood
Starting Sunday morning, anyone can donate blood or plasma, as Hema-Quebec launched its gender-neutral questionnaire, making blood donations more inclusive.
The new policy follows Health Canada's March 25 decision to change policy and eliminate the three-month donor deferral period for gay and bisexual men as well as others in the LGBTQ2S+ community.
"This new, more inclusive approach will place Hema-Quebec among the leaders on the international stage in its field of activity," said Hema-Quebec president and CEO Nathalie Fagnan. "Making this humanitarian gesture even more inclusive and accessible to a greater number of people, regardless of their gender or sexual orientation, is an important step forward."
Those who've donated blood before (or tried to) will be familiar with the questionnaire that includes questions about whether you are pregnant, undergoing cancer treatment, using intravenous drugs, and other questions.
*See selection criteria below
The new gender-neutral questionnaire will ask about sexual behaviour and pregnancy history, and those who have had multiple partners or a new partner within the past three months will be asked further questions.
"This is a significant and important change to qualification criteria, as the assessment of risk for sexual activity will be done on an individual basis rather than on the basis of belonging to a group considered to be at risk," said Dr. Marc Germain, who is vice president of medical affairs and innovation. "This means, for example, that people who identify as sexually diverse will be able to donate blood, including men who have sex with men. On the other hand, it also means that some heterosexual individuals may no longer qualify to donate blood."
The UK started a similar approach in 2021, Germain said, and it allows Hema-Quebec to believe the new policy will have no negative effect on blood or plasma supplies.
"Furthermore, this entire approach is based on scientific evidence while maintaining a high level of safety for blood products intended for transfusion," Germain added.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Air quality alerts issued as wildfire smoke spreads east from Western Canada
Wildfires have led Environment Canada to issue air quality advisories for parts of B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, as forecasters warn the smoke could drift farther east.
Steal a car, lose your driver's licence under new Ontario proposal
Repeat car thieves may face lengthy licence bans under proposed changes to Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act.
Ellen DeGeneres addresses the 'hurtful' end of her talk show in new stand-up set
Ellen DeGeneres is reflecting on how her talk show came to an end in her newest Netflix special, 'Ellen's Last Stand ... Up Tour.'
When you have a moment's notice to evacuate, what do you take?
Knowing what to have at home, or take with you for an evacuation, can be useful and even life-saving.
LIVE UPDATES Michael Cohen will face a bruising cross-examination by Trump's lawyers at the hush money trial
Donald Trump’s fixer-turned-foe returns to the witness stand Tuesday for a bruising round of questioning from the former president’s lawyers.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Regulated area for invasive box tree moth expanded to parts of the Maritimes
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has added much of the Maritimes to a regulated area for an invasive species.
Risks of handcuffing someone facedown long known; people die when police training fails to keep up
For decades, police across the United States have been warned that the common tactic of handcuffing someone facedown could turn deadly if officers pin them on the ground with too much pressure or for too long.
A healthy lifestyle can mitigate genetic risk for early death by 62%, study suggests
Even if your genetics put you at greater risk for early death, a healthy lifestyle could help you significantly combat it, according to a new study.