Ethical Case Study
Sexual Orientation & Blood Donation Case Study A man named James was living in Australia and wanted to donate blood. James had type O-negative blood, considered the “universal donor,” as any individual can safely receive O-negative if their specific blood type is unavailable. Only seven percent of the population has O-negative blood, and those with O-negative can only receive that particular blood type. As such, there is a high demand for O-negative donors (Blood Types, 2022). James wanted to help those undergoing cancer treatments, individuals with blood diseases, and those with burns by participating in blood donation. However, is a gay man, and in Australia, men are prohibited from donating blood if they have had sexual relations with another man three months before donating (HIV Overview, 2023). James was denied the right to donate blood based on his sexual orientation. This rule stems from the prejudicial notion that if a man is gay, he is likely to be infected