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Man contracts HIV through blood transfusion

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The only test they had 10 years ago was if you were Japanese you could give blood if you were a foreigner you could not.

I've given blood in Japan enough times to fill out two of those little red-and-gold donor cards, to commemorate which I also got a little lapel badge. I've also appeared on local TV asking people to donate. So 'foreigners can't give blood because they're foreign' is simply not true.

Fast-forward to the 1990s and the BSE scare; anyone who had spent any time at all in the UK and other European countries - foreigner and full-blood Japanese alike - became unable to give blood in Japan. Since then the restrictions have been relaxed somewhat, but still anyone (foreigner or Japanese national) who has lived in certain countries in Europe or spent a cumulative total of three months or more in the UK between 1980 and 1996 is not allowed to donate.

Again, 'foreigners cannot give blood because they're foreign' is not, and never has been, true.

11 ( +12 / -1 )

Good lord...That is truly disastrous. I can't even begin to imagine what the victims are going through.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

The donor in this case should be criminally charged. They knowingly went out and did something risky (having a one-night stand, taking drugs, being exposed to blood splash, etc) and then went and donated blood during the window period. The result was a serious risk to someone else's life.

This is why there's that huge questionnaire before you donate blood, and it covers nearly every possibility. This person lied and now two other lives are at risk.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

@gogogo

Can foreigners give blood these days? The only test they had 10 years ago was if you were Japanese you could give blood if you were a foreigner you could not.

According to other posters here above, it sems to depend on how long one has been back to certain countries but over 30 years ago, I was able to save a young woman's life with my blood - in Kobé at the time. Apparently times have changed in Kobé too Zichi-san ?

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Not when I first landed, I am serious, when was the first time you gave blood? What year?

Can't remember the exact year, but it would be sometime in the late 70s. I continued to give blood regularly, in Hokuriku, Nagoya and Chiba, right up until the BSE scare. A few years ago I heard that the rules had been relaxed and went along to the next donation drive; had a long conversation with a nice man about exactly how long in total I'd spent in the UK since 1980 and we decided as I was probably (not quite sure - bad memory, not good with dates) just about over the limit it would be better if I didn't. He was very apologetic, thanked me profusely and gave me a carton of eggs and a mask.

If/when they extend the period to over three months, I'll be going along to give blood again and encouraging my kids (who are also excluded now, for the same reason) to give blood too.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

This is one of those seriously frightening issues that medical science hasn't found a foolproof solution for yet. Imagine going into the hospital after an accident and getting some blood, and winding up with a life-altering, potentially life-threatening illness...I sincerely hope that the people affected by this miraculously escape with their health intact.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Officials believe he donated blood in order to find out if he was infected.

Criminally crazy.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Elephant in the room: " He has admitted having homosexual affairs, but lied about his sexual behavior when he donated his blood."

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Jean ValJeanNov. 26, 2013 - 10:39PM JST Elephant in the room: " He has admitted having homosexual affairs, but lied about his sexual behavior when he donated his blood."

The only elephant in the room is that he had unprotected sex with a partner of unknown HIV status and then went to donate blood a few days later, knowing that any infection would be undetectable during this period.

Homosexual or heterosexual is completely irrelevant. There are no sex acts that homosexuals perform that heterosexuals don't also perform (although not vice versa). Heterosexual couples also have anal sex.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

I have often been approached by blood drives in Japan and asked if I would donate blood (I can't because I have Malaria) but they ask me.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

davestrousersNov. 27, 2013 - 11:05AM JST It is completely relevant. Even in an insanely PC country like the UK, men who have had sex with a man in the last 12 months are not allowed to give blood, even if they used a condom and even if it was only oral sex. As recently as 2011 they couldn't give blood full stop. Like, for example, people who sleep with prostitutes, its quite simply a higher-risk group.

Back in the 1970's homosexuals were a higher risk group, and even then the research data was skewed. The research data currently shows that homosexuals are LESS likely to be HIV positive. Go and do some reading and then come back. Generally speaking the homosexual community is better educated about HIV and more careful about condom usage than the average heterosexual. This cancels out the increased risk from anal sex.... which as I already pointed out, heterosexuals also engage in.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Back on topic please.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

My GP also does blood-tests on request. I know the RC was strict with their rules refusing both me and my J-wife as we both lived in a blacklisted country/period.

Unfortunately that window-period is a problem and not much can be done right now about it. Idiot should have worn protection, hope they make him liable for medical expenses incurred to the infected people.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I'd hope the guy could be charged with act endangering health/GBH or Japanese equivalent for this.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The guy should be tried for murder or attempted murder since there is no cure and it will eventually kill those infected. How many others are now infected? At least 2 via transfusions but I don't think we was celibate and since he didn't admit to be a homosexual, just having homosexual affairs, how many are now infected of both sexes?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The guy should be tried for murder or attempted murder since there is no cure and it will eventually kill those infected.

Step into the 21st century. It's not necessarily a death sentence at all. I know two guys who have been living with HIV for over 20 years now. Medicine has made a lot of advancements since HIV was a death sentence, and in all reality there will likely be a cure of some sort within the next decade.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

that guy deserves to go to prison. what an irrepsonsible, lazy and reckless little tw#t he is for trying to determine if he has HIV by donating blood! there are free tests at the ward office, or better yet, spend a 8,000 yen to get tested. how stupid are people these days!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Homosexual or heterosexual is completely irrelevant. There are no sex acts that homosexuals perform that heterosexuals don't also perform (although not vice versa). Heterosexual couples also have anal sex.

It is completely relevant. Even in an insanely PC country like the UK, men who have had sex with a man in the last 12 months are not allowed to give blood, even if they used a condom and even if it was only oral sex. As recently as 2011 they couldn't give blood full stop. Like, for example, people who sleep with prostitutes, its quite simply a higher-risk group.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Frungy "Back in the 1970's homosexuals were a higher risk group, and even then the research data was skewed. The research data currently shows that homosexuals are LESS likely to be HIV positive. Go and do some reading and then come back. Generally speaking the homosexual community is better educated about HIV and more careful about condom usage than the average heterosexual. This cancels out the increased risk from anal sex.... which as I already pointed out, heterosexuals also engage in."

Clearly this was not the case in this incident.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Can foreigners give blood these days? The only test they had 10 years ago was if you were Japanese you could give blood if you were a foreigner you could not.

I'm not joking.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

cleo: Not when I first landed, I am serious, when was the first time you gave blood? What year?

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Hopefully this medical system to be updated.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Accidentally used for blood transfusions? Seriously?

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

That's scary ... aren't blood donations routinely checked for HIV or other diseases before being transfused into needy patients? If not, why not?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

I would not be surprised if this bastard went and gave his HIV blood on purpose to infect others! Not sure what the Japanese laws say about this so do hope they do have laws to deal these kind of horrible crimes.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

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