The kicker, according to Dauphin, is his nearly millennia-long ban from giving at a OneBlood location. He described the technician’s reaction as “apologetic.” However, according to Dauphin, the technician said it was the FDA’s ban, not OneBlood’s, keeping him from donating. A quick perusal of the FDA website would confirm what Dauphin said was correct. “I verbally expressed that I thought the FDA had changed its ban,” Dauphin said. When asked about sexual history, he told the OneBlood technician it had been “years” since his last sexual encounter with a man, and he had recently tested negative for all sexually transmitted infections. He was shocked to learn that he had been disqualified from donating. He read through the material provided and felt certain his answers would prove him to be eligible. He returned last Friday to try again.ĭauphin said, when taken to a private exam room to answer questions, he was not surprised by the standard questions. The changes, enacted in 2015, were made at the recommendation of the Department of Health and Human Services Advisory Committee for Blood and Tissue Safety and Availability.ĭuring Dauphin’s first attempt to give blood immediately following the shooting, the blood bank he visited was already at capacity.
