"Review of Australian Blood Donor Deferrals related to Sexual Activity – Exclusion of sex workers" 2010

Scarlet Alliance appreciates the opportunity to provide a submission on this issue, as it follows on from issues raised directly with the Australian Red Cross in the past. We understand the Australian Red Cross has a responsibility to protect blood recipients from disease and that there is a need to screen individuals for recent occassions of unsafe sex prior to accepting them as a blood donor. However, based on current epidemiology we do not believe sex work constitutes ‘risk behaviour’ and based on advancement in testing technology and issues of direct and indirect discrimination we do not believe that Australian sex workers should be subject to exclusion from blood donation. As such, we recommend that the exclusion of sex workers from donating blood should cease.

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