ay safe sex poses low risk to blood supply, tribunal hears
A Hobart discrimination hearing has heard the risk of Tasmania's blood supply being infected by HIV would be extremely low if gay men who practice safe sex were allowed to donate blood.
The risk calculations were made by the lawyer representing a man who has accused the Red Cross of discrimination.
The Red Cross refused Michael Cain's blood because he had been in a gay relationship.
Mr Cain argues screening should be based on safe sexual practices, not sexual orientation.
Canadian risk analysis expert William Leiss told the Anti-Discrimination Tribunal such a change would increase the risk of infection.
But Mr Cain's lawyer, Peter Tree, said statistics showed if gay men who have safe sex were allowed to donate blood, the risk of Tasmania's blood supply being infected by HIV would be once every 5,769 years.
Dr Leiss said that could be right, but such a screening system had not been researched.
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