Most Gays Ruled Out as Organ Donors

January 10, 2008

CDC 01-09-08

CANADA: " Most Gays Ruled Out as Organ Donors "

Toronto Star (01.09.08):: ph Hall

A Health Canada organ donor regulation that excludes sexually active gay men

from being donors is " unreasonable, " practically unenforceable, and reduces the

already scarce supply of transplantable organs, a Toronto AIDS doctor says.

" What about a gay monogamous couple, [Health Canada] is not going to let them

donate? It's ridiculous, " said Dr. Philip Berger, head of family and community

medicine at St. 's Hospital. " It's been known for 20 years that the risk

factor is not in being gay [but] in risky sexual behavior. "

Berger says " it's what the individual does in their sexual lives, whether gay or

straight, [that] puts them at risk. " " To exclude bona fide donors because

they've had sex with another man. would exclude a lot of people who are no risk

at all. Zero risk. "

The new rule, which took effect in December, merely formalizes the precautions

used nationwide for at least 10 years and is closely based on blood donor

restrictions, said Dr. Levy, head of Canada's largest transplant program.

" I personally believe someone who has been in a monogamous relationship for 30

years, regardless of the gender or their partner, is a safe situation, " Levy

said. He believes transplant doctors will lobby Health Canada to rethink the

rule and instead emphasize high-risk behavior.

Transplant surgeons will still have final say as to which organs are good for

use, Levy said. Many organs from gay men have been used after the retrieval

agency cleared them of being a significant HIV risk, he said. But under the new

rule, surgeons will have to sign a form acknowledging that they have authorized

transplantation of an organ that would ordinarily be excluded.

Berger

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