Abstract
The MSM blood donor policy permanently defers all men who have had sex with another man from donating blood in the United States. The purpose of this research study was to develop a comprehensive policy analysis, from a social justice perspective, using a variety of resources including interviewing persons to discuss the MSM blood donor policy and explore common perceptions among the various participants. This exploratory qualitative content analysis study investigated this policy using expert knowledge to support various themes that are pertinent features to the policy. A snowball sampling method was selected to interview 10 participants. The first theme discusses the medical implications of the policy while the second theme summarizes central ideas about social stigmas, policy interpretations, and the political evolution of the policy. The results from the study found that interview participants and previous literature support the idea that an alternative policy is long overdue based on scientific advancements and disease understanding. Implications for social work practice and policy is discussed.