Mass. health officials join call to end discriminatory rules around blood donation

For the first time ever, the American Red Cross, which contributes an estimated 40% of the national supply of blood and blood components, has declared a national blood shortage crisis.

Despite the current shortage, men who have sex with other men still face extra hurdles in order to donate blood. Dr. Carl Streed, physician, assistant professor at the Boston University School of Medicine, and Research Lead for the Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery at Boston Medical Center, joins us to talk about why the extra restrictions were put in place in the 1980's, how scientific advancements over the last 40 years have impacted our ability to screen donated blood, and the direct and indirect effects of our current policies.