Milan Hospital Under Fire for Refusing Gay Blood Donor

The Policlinico hospital in Milan is under investigation by Italy's minister of health after turning away a blood donor after he stated that he is gay. Italy in the past had a blanket prohibition on men who had ever had sex with another man, but now the policy bars individuals who have had more than three sexual partners in the previous 12 months. Sexual orientation is not to be considered.

The hospital is relying on the "room for discretion" in the law, and maintain that their internal policy of barring anyone man who has had sex with another man in the previous five years as permissible.

United States policy bars men who have sex with any other man at any point since 1977. It also bars anyone who has ever exchanged sex for money or drugs. Anyone who has had sex in the last 12 months with anyone who would be barred for these reasons is also deferred.