Bonkers’: Male blood donor turned away for refusing to say if he was pregnant
Steffen McAndrew hits out at ‘political correctness gone mad’ in question he believes is designed to ‘placate the gender-brigade’
A male GP has been prevented from
donating blood to the Scottish NHS after he refused to confirm whether or not he was pregnant.
Steffen McAndrew, who works in Prestwick, South Ayrshire, said he had been turned away from a blood donation centre in nearby Ayr after he refused to answer a
“bonkers” question about if he was carrying a baby.
The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) claimed that the question had been introduced a year ago for “donor safety”, with everyone expected to confirm whether they are pregnant or had been recently,
regardless of their sex.
The service said that it was updating the wording on its form, following a backlash, but still plans to have male donors respond to a question about whether they are with child.
Dr McAndrew said that he had been a regular blood donor before the pandemic, but booked a new appointment to donate at Belmont Academy on Tuesday for the first time since Covid struck.
However, 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, which he suspected was included for men to “placate and pacify the gender-brigade”.
Some trans activists insist it is possible for men to become pregnant, as they believe transgender men, who are biologically female, are literally men.
‘To say it is bonkers is an understatement’
However, Dr McAndrew said that he was a man and “therefore I cannot be pregnant”.
Dr McAndrew 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 Telegraph revealed last year that an internal report for NHS Scotland had called for “a general move away from gendered healthcare” to appease trans patients.
It was warned that branding services as being offered at, for example, a women’s health clinic could mean trans patients would not attend.
However, experts have raised fears that moves towards what trans activists see as “inclusive language” in the health service are dehumanising and potentially dangerous, for example by confusing those who do not speak good English.
The Scottish NHS has previously been criticised for omitting references to women from public health campaigns and instead using terms such as “
people who menstruate”.
‘This question is asked for donor safety’
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.”
www.telegraph.co.uk
