NI Conservatives’ spokeswoman, Lesley Macaulay, has accused the health minister of “basing policy decisions on little more than personal prejudice” after Edwin Poots said he was considering appealing an order requiring him to disclose legal advice used to justify banning gay men from giving blood.
“This is an issue which has nothing to do with morality or ethics, it is purely a matter for medical experts and the aim is to maximise the supply of safe blood”, Lesley emphasised. “Yet the minister has chosen to ignore current scientific evidence and deem that a gay man’s blood cannot be used, based, apparently, on nothing other than a dislike of homosexuality. Now he wants to hide the legal advice which informed his decision, never mind any so-called science that could justify a life ban.”
“Edwin Poots’ latest statements on organ donation also raise concerns that the minister might shape that policy on a whim too. He suggests that, after someone dies, their family ‘owns’ their body and should get to decide what happens to the remains, irrespective of whether the deceased wanted to donate organs. That is simply the minister’s personal preference and not a point of principle accepted by either medical professionals or society in general.”
“It is frightening that Edwin Poots can reach such important policy decisions based on little more than personal prejudice. These are crucial issues, matters of life and death, and they should not be resolved on a whimsical basis by a minister who appears happy to close his mind to science and medical experts.”