Male blood donor turned away for refusing to say if he was pregnant: 'Gone too far!'
Steffen McAndrew said he had been turned away from a blood donation centre after he declined to say whether he was pregant
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A male GP was prohibited from donating blood to the Scottish NHS after he refused to confirm whether or not he was pregnant.
Steffen McAndrew said he had been turned away from a blood donation centre in Ayr after he declined to answer a "bonkers" question about if he was carrying a baby.
The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) claim that the question was introduced a year ago for “donor safety”.
Everyone is expected to confirm whether they are pregnant or had been recently, regardless of their sex.
A nurse told the donor that he would be unable to go ahead and give blood after he declined to answer the question about whether he was due to give birth
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But following backlash, the service said it would change the wording on its form but still plans to have male donors respond to a question about whether they are with child.
McAndrew said that he had been a regular blood donor before the pandemic, but booked a new appointment to donate at Belmont Academy for the first time since Covid hit.
But when it came down to giving blood, a nurse told him that he would be unable to go ahead with the donation after he declined to answer the question about whether he was due to give birth.
Some trans activists insist it is possible for men to become pregnant, as they believe transgender men, who are biologically female, are male.
However, McAndrew said that he was a man and “therefore I cannot be pregnant”.
He told The Herald: “I can't believe they would refuse a donation from a man based on the fact I refused to say if I was pregnant.
“I can also understand those who have suggested, 'just tick the box', to enable a donation. However it is the principle of the matter.
“To say it is bonkers is an understatement. I have a nagging feeling that it is political correctness gone too far, trying to placate and pacify the gender-brigade.
"I am hugely supportive of the Blood Transfusion Service. They are vital to the day to day operation of the NHS. But I really think they are shooting themselves in the foot with this.
“It's a fundamental problem in the NHS (and society) that common sense has been lost, obliterated.”
The service said it would change the wording on its form but still plans to have male donors respond to a question about whether they are with child
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Following a backlash, the SNBTS said it planned to change the wording on its form, where the pregnancy question is classed as mandatory.
This would see potential blood donors told to tick no to the pregnancy question if it is "not applicable”.
A spokesman for the SNBTS said: “Since April 2022, SNBTS asks all donors to complete the following question on the donor health check 'Are you pregnant, or have you been pregnant in the last six months?'.
“This question is asked for donor safety. Giving blood may be harmful for individuals who are pregnant, or who have been pregnant recently.
“We appreciate that for many donors (including some female donors such as post menopausal donors) this question will not be relevant.
“Following donor feedback, we are planning to update the wording of the question to 'Are you pregnant, or have you been pregnant in the last six months? (If not applicable, please tick no)'.
“This is likely to be implemented at the next donor health check update due in Summer 2023.”