title: [Blood transfusion and homosexuality: Ethical considerations].
abstract: Since the context of the contaminated blood affair in 1983, the homosexual male were excluded from the blood donation in France. This exclusion is often called into question in several countries and is an actual lively debate. In France, reform process is ongoing for a practical change. Three issues make up the discussion: the infectious risk bound to sexual behavior, the feasibility of the powerful biological tests but having a silent window and the protection of the blood recipient. The infectious risk in the homosexual male is higher for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) than in the rest of the population. Even if every person has his/her own individual risk depending on his/her habits, everyone is confronted to the same law. The challenge is to build a consensus, along with the precautionary principle, the non-discrimination policy, and the individual and collective responsibilities.
authors.affiliation: EA 4569, Laboratoire d'éthique médicale et de médecine légale, faculté de médecine, université Paris-Descartes, 45, rue des Saints-Pères, 75006 Paris, France. Electronic address: Agathe.beranger@gmail.com.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Béranger
authors.affiliation: EA 4569, Laboratoire d'éthique médicale et de médecine légale, faculté de médecine, université Paris-Descartes, 45, rue des Saints-Pères, 75006 Paris, France.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bellis
authors.affiliation: EA 4569, Laboratoire d'éthique médicale et de médecine légale, faculté de médecine, université Paris-Descartes, 45, rue des Saints-Pères, 75006 Paris, France; Faculté de chirurgie dentaire, département de santé publique, université Paris-Descartes, 1, rue Maurice-Arnoux, 92120 Montrouge, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bracconi
authors.affiliation: EA 4569, Laboratoire d'éthique médicale et de médecine légale, faculté de médecine, université Paris-Descartes, 45, rue des Saints-Pères, 75006 Paris, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mouysset
mesh_terms: D001727:Bisexuality; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D058731:Blood Safety / Q000941:ethics*; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D046148:Donor Selection / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D055256:Infectious Disease Incubation Period; D008297:Male; D012306:Risk; D063508:Social Discrimination; D012941:Social Responsibility; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
keywords: Blood donation; Discrimination; Don du sang; Homosexuality; Homosexualité; Legislation; Législation; Precautionary principle; Principe de précaution; Responsabilité; Responsibility